Engine Idle Measurement & Control — Retrofit Platform

Intelligent Engine Idle Management

IdleZero is developing intelligent retrofit technology designed to identify avoidable engine-running time, control eligible shutdowns and provide measurable operating insights—without relying on proprietary engine integration.

Explore the Technology Discuss a Pilot
Initial focus Mining & remote industrial operationsDiesel generationConstruction Equipment rental & hire fleetsRemote powerAgricultureOEM & service partners

01 The Problem

When the work stops, the engine often doesn't.

Scene A — Generator set, connected demand removedNo-load operation
Engine state
RUNNING
Electrical load
0 kW
Runtime (no output)
04:12:33
Live telemetry — conceptualIllustrative
Accumulated runtime
12,847.3 h
Useful output
0 kW
Visibility
NONE

Across industrial operations, engines can remain running when equipment is no longer delivering useful output. That can mean fuel consumed, hours accumulated and operational costs incurred without productive work.

/ 01

Fuel Consumption

Fuel burned while the engine runs without performing useful work is consumption with no return.

/ 02

Engine Hours

Non-productive running time still accumulates on the hour meter, advancing maintenance exposure.

/ 03

Emissions

Every avoidable running minute carries exhaust emissions and noise with no associated output.

/ 04

Operational Visibility

Without measurement, non-productive running time stays invisible—and unmanaged.

02 The Platform

Meet IdleZero.

Intelligence beyond the engine.

IdleZero introduces a dedicated measurement and control layer for compatible industrial equipment—designed to work across manufacturers, equipment generations and operating environments.

How It Works
IDLEZERO MODEL IZ-1 — REFERENCE UNIT PROTOTYPE · BENCH-VALIDATED · NOT CERTIFIED RUN ARM FIELD TERMINALS — SENSING / ENGINE-RUN CIRCUIT / POWER

Conceptual rendering — production enclosure design pending

External sensing Intelligent verification Controlled shutdown Human-authorised restart Event logging Connected-ready architecture

03 How It Works

Six stages. One deterministic sequence.

STAGE 01 / 06 — MONITOR
  1. 01MonitorInputs: V · A · Hz · Aux

    Measure validated electrical output and relevant engine operating signals.

  2. 02VerifyDeterministic eligibility logic

    Determine whether conditions satisfy the configured shutdown eligibility requirements.

  3. 03ProtectIf uncertain → shutdown inhibited

    Check protected operating states, sensing integrity and equipment compatibility conditions.

  4. 04ControlOutput: run / fuel circuit interrupt

    Where authorised and safe, issue the shutdown command through the appropriate external engine-run circuit.

  5. 05RestartNo autonomous or scheduled starts

    Allow a deliberate human-initiated restart transaction, subject to the defined starting sequence and safeguards.

  6. 06RecordTimestamped event store

    Capture operating events, intervention outcomes and supporting utilisation information.

Compatibility OK Protected states clear Sensing integrity OK Generator set Alternator output side 0 V · 0 A Signal sensing V — voltage A — current Hz — frequency Multi-signal input IDLEZERO Measurement & control Signal window Deterministic logic INHIBIT SHUTDOWN IF UNCERTAIN Control relay OPEN Coil energised by controller output Engine-run / fuel circuit Engine response RPM 1480 Shutdown command Human start authorisation — IDLE — Operating record — timestamped event store 10:41:58 NO-LOAD CONDITIONS CONFIRMED 10:42:03 ELIGIBILITY & PROTECTED STATES MET 10:42:04 SHUTDOWN COMMANDED — RUN CIRCUIT 10:42:09 ENGINE STOPPED · RESTART AWAITING OPERATOR
Signal chain: Generator → Sensors → IdleZero Controller → Control Relay → Engine Response Shutdown = run/fuel circuit interrupted — not an output breaker.

04 Engineered for Compatibility

Built for mixed fleets. Designed for real industry.

/ F-01

No proprietary ECU connection required

No ECU, OBD, CAN bus or manufacturer-specific engine software integration is required. IdleZero works from externally measured signals.

/ F-02

Multi-signal operating-state verification

Corroborating signals are cross-checked before any no-load condition is treated as eligible for shutdown.

/ F-03

Deterministic control logic

Fixed, auditable decision rules — not opaque heuristics — determine when a shutdown transaction is permitted.

/ F-04

Fail-safe design principles

Where required sensing, compatibility or protected-state information is uncertain, autonomous shutdown is inhibited by design.

/ F-05

Standalone operation

Core measurement and control functionality is designed to operate without cloud connectivity or external services.

/ F-06

Optional connected capabilities

The platform architecture is designed to support connected reporting and fleet-management integration where deployed.

Compatibility is not plug-and-play. Whether a specific machine is suitable is established through structured commissioning and equipment-specific validation — including verification of the engine-run or fuel circuit to be interrupted. IdleZero is intended for compatible diesel, petrol and gas-fuelled equipment, subject to that validation.

05 Industries & Applications

One technology platform. Multiple industrial applications.

/ I-01

Mining & Resources

Industrial power systems and compatible engine-driven equipment across remote, high-duty operations.

/ I-02

Construction & Infrastructure

Temporary power equipment and selected construction applications.

/ I-03

Equipment Rental

Mixed-OEM fleets where common operating visibility and control could provide value.

/ I-04

Remote Power

Standalone diesel generator applications where shutdown eligibility can be safely established.

/ I-05

Agriculture & Industrial Equipment

Suitable engine-driven machinery, subject to application-specific sensing and validation.

Technical note — application eligibility depends on the equipment, its duty cycle and the commissioning requirements of each installation.

06 Measurement & Digital Visibility

From engine runtime to operational intelligence.

Platform Vision — Conceptual Interface

IdleZero Fleet View Concept build v0.9 --:--:--
Conceptual interface · All values are synthetic and illustrative — not operating results and not customer fleet data

07 Value Proposition

Less unnecessary running. More informed operations.

/ V-01

Operational Efficiency

Identify and address confirmed avoidable engine-running periods, with control applied only where eligibility is established.

/ V-02

Fuel & Emissions Opportunity

Support measurable reduction opportunities — dependent on actual duty cycles and validated interventions, not assumptions.

Outcome scale depends on duty cycle · validated interventions
/ V-03

Asset Utilisation

Provide clearer visibility into productive versus non-productive operating time across compatible equipment.

/ V-04

Fleet Intelligence

Build an auditable operating-data foundation across compatible equipment — a basis for better decisions over time.

08 Engineering & Validation

Engineered with safety at the core.

W — TBC ① H — TBC ① GENERAL ARRANGEMENT — FRONT ELEVATION · SCALE NTS · DIMENSIONS INDICATIVE, FINAL SIZE SUBJECT TO PRODUCTION ENGINEERING
ProjectIDLEZERO IZ-1
DrawingIZ-GA-001 ①
RevA — Concept
StatusPrototype — not certified
Confirmed shutdown eligibilityShutdown only after defined eligibility conditions are met.
Defined compatibility envelopeOperation only within validated equipment boundaries.
Fail-safe hardware architectureDesigned to default to continued running when uncertain.
Protected-state conditionsActive operating states block eligible shutdown.
Human-authorised startingNo autonomous or scheduled restart initiation.
Fault detection & shutdown inhibitionSensing faults inhibit control, never trigger it.
Controlled commissioningEach installation is configured, verified and armed deliberately.
Independent engineering verificationPlanned as part of the next development stages.

Development status

IdleZero has developed and bench-validated a reference controller prototype. Production engineering, certification and controlled field validation form the next development stages.

09 Partnership & Pilot Program

Explore what IdleZero could do for your operation.

We're engaging industrial operators, equipment owners and engineering partners interested in evaluating intelligent idle measurement and control on suitable equipment.

Fleet Operators

Explore equipment suitability and potential pilot applications across your fleet.

Discuss a pilot

OEMs & Equipment Partners

Discuss compatibility, integration and distribution opportunities.

Contact IdleZero

Engineering & Technology Partners

Explore validation, product development and industrial deployment collaboration.

Start a conversation

Talk to IdleZero.

Tell us about your equipment and duty cycles. We'll assess whether an evaluation could be worthwhile — honestly, including when it may not be.

Business enquiries
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