Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Automotive Navigation System shopping experience:
1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Automotive Navigation System offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Automotive Navigation System at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.
2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about
3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Automotive Navigation System? Wrong! If the Automotive Navigation System is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about Automotive Navigation System then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Automotive Navigation System? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Automotive Navigation System and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.
6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Automotive Navigation System wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your Automotive Navigation System then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Automotive Navigation System site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about Automotive Navigation System, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your Automotive Navigation System, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
in
Kyoto, equipped with GPS navigation systemAn
automotive navigation system is a
satellite navigation system designed for use in
automobiles. It typically uses GPS to acquire position data to locate the user on a
road in the unit's map
database. Using the road database, the unit can give directions to other locations along roads also in its database.
Dead reckoning using distance data from sensors attached to the drivetrain and a
Inertial guidance system#Vibrating gyros can be used for greater reliability, as GPS signal loss and/or multipath can occur due to urban canyons or tunnels.
History
Alpine Electronics claims they created the first automotive navigation system in 1981.
Honda claims to have created the first navigation system starting in 1983, and culminating with general availability in the 1990
Acura Legend. This
analog computer system used an accelerometer to navigate using
Inertial Navigation System, as the GPS system was not yet generally available.
Both Mitsubishi Electric and
Pioneer Corporation claim to be the first with a GPS-based auto navigation system, in
1990. Also in 1990, a draft patent application was filed within Digital Equipment Co. Ltd. for a multi-function device called PageLink that had real-time maps for use in a car listed as one of its functions.
Magellan, a GPS navigation system manufacturer, claims to have created the first GPS-based vehicle navigation system in the U.S. in 1995.
Technology
Visualization
software
Navigation systems use a combination of:
- top view for the map
- top view for the map with the map rotating like the automobile
- bird's-eye view for the map or the next curve
- linear gauge for distance, which is redundant if a rotating map is used
- numbers for distance
Road database
Contents
The road database is a Vector Map of some area of interest. Street names or numbers and house numbers are encoded as geographic coordinates so that the user can find some desired destination by street address (see map database management).
Point of interest (waypoints) will also be stored with their geographic coordinates. Point of interest specialties include Road safety camera,
fuel stations, public
parking, and "parked here" (or "you parked here").
Contents can be produced by the user base as their cars drive along existing streets (
Wi-Fi) and communicating via the internet, yielding a free and up-to-date map.
Map Formats
Formats are uniformly proprietary; there is no industry standard for satellite navigation maps.The map vendors
Tele Atlas and NAVTEQ create the base map in a standard format Geographic Data Files, but each electronics manufacturer compiles it in an optimized, usually proprietary format. GDF is not a CD standard for car navigation systems. GDF is used and converted onto the CD-ROM in the internal format of the navigation system.
CARiN
CARiN is a proprietary navigation map format created by VDO/Dayton that is used in a number of navigation-equipped vehicles. The CARiN pseudo-acronym stands for
Car Information and
Navigation.
The original system uses
CD-ROM-based maps, with ISO_9660 encoding for their file system. Maps can be recognized by the presence of the following files on the CD:
- ABSTRACT
- BIBLIOGR
- CARINET
- CARINDB
- COPYRIGH
Newer derivatives also use DVD-ROM-based maps for extra capacity, and add support for long file names. Older CARiN-compatible navigation computers are not able to read the newer DVD maps, but the DVD-enabled computers are still able to read the CD-based maps.
Vehicle manufacturers who have used or are still using this format in one or more of their ranges include:
After-market GPS vendors using the format include:
Older CD-based CARiN maps are completely interchangeable between manufacturers; however, differences in the more modern DVD maps are starting to change this.
Point of Interest information can be stored either in the database file itself (carindb), or in a separate database under a directory named 'TPD.' Encoding of GPS coordinates in the TPD folder is proprietary and varies between navigation computers (e.g., BMW 'HIGH' vs BMW 'Professional' editions of the navigation map). Editors are now available to customize these POI (see links below).
CARiN media is sometimes referred to colloquially as "Carinet" or "CarinDb," after the names of the files on the navigation media.
S-Dal
This is a proprietary
CD-ROM-based map format created by Navteq. The applications and devices using this media are not known, even although its specifications are published on the Navteq website.
Media
The road database may be stored in
Read-only memory, optical media (CD or DVD), solid state
flash memory, magnetic media (hard disk), or a combination. A common scheme is to have a
base map permanently stored in ROM that can be augmented with detailed information for a region the user is interested in. A ROM is always programmed at the factory; the other media may be preprogrammed,
downloaded from a CD or DVD via a
computer or wireless connection (bluetooth,
Wi-Fi), or directly used utilizing a card reader.
Some navigation device makers provide free map updates for their customers. These updates areoften obtained from the vendor's website, which is accessed by connecting the navigation device to a PC.
Real-time Data
Some newer systems can not only give precise driving directions, they can also receive and display information on
traffic congestion map and suggest alternate routes. These may use either Traffic Message Channel, which delivers coded traffic information using radio
Radio Data System, or by GPRS/3G data transmission via mobile phones.
One key type of real-time data is Traffic information, which includes:
- Real-time data about free/full parkings;
- Nearest public transport lines and prices, to go to a destination, when there is a traffic congestion.
Other real-time data includes weather broadcasting, etc.
Integration and Other Functions
- The color LCD screens on some automotive navigation systems can also be used to display television broadcasts or DVD Films.
- A few systems integrate (or communicate) with mobile phones for hands-free talking and SMS (i.e., using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi).
- Automotive navigation systems can include personal information management for meetings, which can be combined with a traffic and public transport information system.
Controversy
Safety Features
Vehicles produced by
Subaru and Lexus, as well as Lexus' parent company, Toyota, lock out many of the features when the vehicle is in motion. The manufacturers claim this is a safety feature to avoid the driver's being distracted. Many users have complained that passengers are not able to enter destinations while in motion, even though it is safe to do so. Additionally, drivers have complained that it is often more dangerous to pull off a highway and stop than it would be to enter a destination into the system.
Misdirection
A number of road accidents have been attributed to misdirection by satnav systems. On 11 May 2007, a driver followed satnav instructions in the dark and her car was hit by a train on a rail crossing that was not shown on the system. In Exton, Hampshire, local residents have erected signs warning drivers to ignore their satnav systems.
GPS vs Speed Camera Accuracy
In July 2007, an Australian man successfully overturned a speeding conviction after evidence from a GPS
navigational track proved that he did not exceed the speed limit.
Other functions
- Golf carts may have integrated GPS units tailored to specific golf courses, providing interactive course maps and live readings of distance measurements to the green.
- Many systems can give information on nearby point of interest (POIs), such as restaurants, cash machines and gas stations. Some navigation devices use this feature to store the location of known speed trap or speed camera, and can alert the driver in much the same way as a radar detector. GPS may also be integrated into actual radar detection devices to enhance accuracy, and in some cases, implement a logic system where the system only alerts if the driver is traveling above the speed limit or in the direction to be 'caught.' Unlike radar detector, GPS-based speed trap warnings are currently not illegal in any country except Switzerland.
- GPS replaces the radio-dispatch of some taxicabs in Taiwan and Singapore. A central computer tracks all vehicles in the fleet/network, and automatically dispatches the closest cab within proximity of the customer's location to answer the call. To order a cab, the customer can either talk to an attendant or enter a registered location code for systematic service. The driver would enter an estimated time of arrival (estimated time of arrival) on the computer, which is relayed to the caller by a prerecorded message, at which point a confirmation can be made to accept or reject the cab.
- Advanced car security vehicle tracking systems can relay the vehicle's location via cellular phone services in case of loss or theft. The technology can also be used to manage Fleet_vehicle, in which case it's known as Automatic_vehicle_location.
Retrofitting of GPS
A vehicle can be
Retrofit with a GPS unit if it did not originally have one. There are three approaches that can be taken here:
Portable GPS
This type of installation is not permanently integrated into the vehicle, having only a simple bracket to mount the device on the surface of the
dashboard and powered via the
car cigarette lighter. This class of GPS unit does not require professional installation and can typically be used as handheld device, too.
Benefits of this type of GPS unit include low cost as well as the ability to move them easily to other vehicles. However, their portability also means they are easily stolen if left inside the vehicle. Furthermore, not having a magnetic
compass and being unable to use inputs from the vehicle's
Wheel speed sensor, means that they cannot use dead reckoning in tunnels where there's no GPS signal.
An portable automotive navigation system kit generally includes:
Original Factory Equipment
Many vehicle manufacturers offer
GPS as an option in their vehicles. Customers whose vehicles did not ship with GPS can therefore purchase and retrofit the original factory-supplied GPS unit. In some cases this can be a straightforward 'plug-and-play' installation if the required wiring harness is already present in the vehicle. However, with some manufacturers, new wiring is required, making the installation more complex.
The primary benefits of this approach are an integrated and factory-standard installation. Many original systems also contain a gyrocompass or Accelerometer, as well as accepting inputs from the vehicle's wheel speed sensor, thereby allowing them to navigate via
dead reckoning when a GPS signal is temporarily unavailable. However, the costs can be considerably higher than other options. In some cases, it may even be more economical to buy a similar vehicle that already has a factory-fitted GPS.
Aftermarket
A number of manufacturers supply Aftermarket (automotive) GPS units that can be integrated permanently into the vehicle. A typical location for such an installation is the
DIN slot for the radio/tape/CD. However, in extreme cases, the dashboard may also be remodeled to accommodate the unit.
This approach can be considered a tradeoff between the previous two options. Benefits include a more secure and better cosmetic finish than a portable device, and lower cost compared to the installation of an original factory-supplied GPS.
Alternatives
Mobile Phones with GPS Capability
Commercial navigation software is widely available for most current smartphones as well as some Java (programming language)-enabled phones that allows them to use an internal or external GPS receiver (in the latter case, connecting via serial communications or
Bluetooth). Phones with this capability function no differently to a dedicated portable GPS receiver and may even use the same software.
More bespoke solutions also exist for mobile phones with
GPS Phone. One such example is marketed by Verizon Wireless in the
United States, and is called "VZ Navigator." The system uses
gpsOne technology to determine a person's location, and then uses the mobile phone's data connection to download maps and calculate navigational routes.
SMS
Establishing points of interest in real-time and transmitting them via GSM cellular telephone networks using the SMS (
SMS) is referred to as Gps2sms.
Some vehicles and vessels are equipped with hardware that is able to automatically send an SMS text message when a particular event happens, such as:
The receiving party (e.g., a
tow truck) can store the
waypoint in a computer system, draw a map indicating the location, or see it in an automotive navigation system.
Example Systems
- Acer e300 series
- Garmin
- Gizmondo
- The Hertz Corporation#Hertz Neverlost
- Master Navigator Software (Sapper Oy)
- Mio Technology
- iCN GPS
- Pioneer Corporation
- TomTom (company)
- Siemens_VDO
- Wayfinder
See also
References
in
Kyoto, equipped with GPS navigation systemAn
automotive navigation system is a
satellite navigation system designed for use in
automobiles. It typically uses GPS to acquire position data to locate the user on a road in the unit's map
database. Using the road database, the unit can give directions to other locations along roads also in its database. Dead reckoning using distance data from sensors attached to the
drivetrain and a Inertial guidance system#Vibrating gyros can be used for greater reliability, as GPS signal loss and/or
multipath can occur due to
urban canyons or tunnels.
History
Alpine Electronics claims they created the first automotive navigation system in 1981.
Honda claims to have created the first navigation system starting in 1983, and culminating with general availability in the 1990 Acura Legend. This
analog computer system used an accelerometer to navigate using Inertial Navigation System, as the GPS system was not yet generally available.
Both
Mitsubishi Electric and Pioneer Corporation claim to be the first with a GPS-based auto navigation system, in
1990. Also in 1990, a draft patent application was filed within Digital Equipment Co. Ltd. for a multi-function device called PageLink that had real-time maps for use in a car listed as one of its functions.
Magellan, a GPS navigation system manufacturer, claims to have created the first GPS-based vehicle navigation system in the U.S. in 1995.
Technology
Visualization
software
Navigation systems use a combination of:
- top view for the map
- top view for the map with the map rotating like the automobile
- bird's-eye view for the map or the next curve
- linear gauge for distance, which is redundant if a rotating map is used
- numbers for distance
Road database
Contents
The road database is a
Vector Map of some area of interest. Street names or numbers and house numbers are encoded as
geographic coordinates so that the user can find some desired destination by street address (see
map database management).
Point of interest (waypoints) will also be stored with their geographic coordinates. Point of interest specialties include Road safety camera, fuel stations, public
parking, and "parked here" (or "you parked here").
Contents can be produced by the user base as their cars drive along existing streets (
Wi-Fi) and communicating via the internet, yielding a free and up-to-date map.
Map Formats
Formats are uniformly proprietary; there is no industry standard for satellite navigation maps.The map vendors
Tele Atlas and
NAVTEQ create the base map in a standard format
Geographic Data Files, but each electronics manufacturer compiles it in an optimized, usually proprietary format. GDF is not a CD standard for car navigation systems. GDF is used and converted onto the CD-ROM in the internal format of the navigation system.
CARiN
CARiN is a proprietary navigation map format created by VDO/Dayton that is used in a number of navigation-equipped vehicles. The CARiN pseudo-
acronym stands for
Car Information and
Navigation.
The original system uses
CD-ROM-based maps, with
ISO_9660 encoding for their file system. Maps can be recognized by the presence of the following files on the CD:
- ABSTRACT
- BIBLIOGR
- CARINET
- CARINDB
- COPYRIGH
Newer derivatives also use
DVD-ROM-based maps for extra capacity, and add support for long file names. Older CARiN-compatible navigation computers are not able to read the newer DVD maps, but the DVD-enabled computers are still able to read the CD-based maps.
Vehicle manufacturers who have used or are still using this format in one or more of their ranges include:
After-market GPS vendors using the format include:
Older CD-based CARiN maps are completely interchangeable between manufacturers; however, differences in the more modern DVD maps are starting to change this.
Point of Interest information can be stored either in the database file itself (carindb), or in a separate database under a directory named 'TPD.' Encoding of GPS coordinates in the TPD folder is proprietary and varies between navigation computers (e.g., BMW 'HIGH' vs BMW 'Professional' editions of the navigation map). Editors are now available to customize these POI (see links below).
CARiN media is sometimes referred to colloquially as "Carinet" or "CarinDb," after the names of the files on the navigation media.
S-Dal
This is a proprietary
CD-ROM-based map format created by
Navteq. The applications and devices using this media are not known, even although its specifications are published on the Navteq website.
Media
The road database may be stored in
Read-only memory, optical media (
CD or
DVD), solid state flash memory, magnetic media (
hard disk), or a combination. A common scheme is to have a base map permanently stored in ROM that can be augmented with detailed information for a region the user is interested in. A ROM is always programmed at the factory; the other media may be preprogrammed, downloaded from a
CD or
DVD via a computer or
wireless connection (bluetooth,
Wi-Fi), or directly used utilizing a card reader.
Some navigation device makers provide free map updates for their customers. These updates areoften obtained from the vendor's website, which is accessed by connecting the navigation device to a PC.
Real-time Data
Some newer systems can not only give precise driving directions, they can also receive and display information on
traffic congestion map and suggest alternate routes. These may use either Traffic Message Channel, which delivers coded traffic information using radio
Radio Data System, or by GPRS/3G data transmission via mobile phones.
One key type of real-time data is Traffic information, which includes:
- Real-time data about free/full parkings;
- Nearest public transport lines and prices, to go to a destination, when there is a traffic congestion.
Other real-time data includes weather broadcasting, etc.
Integration and Other Functions
- The color LCD screens on some automotive navigation systems can also be used to display television broadcasts or DVD Films.
- A few systems integrate (or communicate) with mobile phones for hands-free talking and SMS (i.e., using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi).
- Automotive navigation systems can include personal information management for meetings, which can be combined with a traffic and public transport information system.
Controversy
Safety Features
Vehicles produced by
Subaru and Lexus, as well as Lexus' parent company, Toyota, lock out many of the features when the vehicle is in motion. The manufacturers claim this is a safety feature to avoid the driver's being distracted. Many users have complained that passengers are not able to enter destinations while in motion, even though it is safe to do so. Additionally, drivers have complained that it is often more dangerous to pull off a highway and stop than it would be to enter a destination into the system.
Misdirection
A number of road accidents have been attributed to misdirection by satnav systems. On 11 May 2007, a driver followed satnav instructions in the dark and her car was hit by a train on a rail crossing that was not shown on the system. In
Exton, Hampshire, local residents have erected signs warning drivers to ignore their satnav systems.
GPS vs Speed Camera Accuracy
In July 2007, an Australian man successfully overturned a speeding conviction after evidence from a GPS
navigational track proved that he did not exceed the speed limit.
Other functions
- Golf carts may have integrated GPS units tailored to specific golf courses, providing interactive course maps and live readings of distance measurements to the green.
- Many systems can give information on nearby point of interest (POIs), such as restaurants, cash machines and gas stations. Some navigation devices use this feature to store the location of known speed trap or speed camera, and can alert the driver in much the same way as a radar detector. GPS may also be integrated into actual radar detection devices to enhance accuracy, and in some cases, implement a logic system where the system only alerts if the driver is traveling above the speed limit or in the direction to be 'caught.' Unlike radar detector, GPS-based speed trap warnings are currently not illegal in any country except Switzerland.
- GPS replaces the radio-dispatch of some taxicabs in Taiwan and Singapore. A central computer tracks all vehicles in the fleet/network, and automatically dispatches the closest cab within proximity of the customer's location to answer the call. To order a cab, the customer can either talk to an attendant or enter a registered location code for systematic service. The driver would enter an estimated time of arrival (estimated time of arrival) on the computer, which is relayed to the caller by a prerecorded message, at which point a confirmation can be made to accept or reject the cab.
- Advanced car security vehicle tracking systems can relay the vehicle's location via cellular phone services in case of loss or theft. The technology can also be used to manage Fleet_vehicle, in which case it's known as Automatic_vehicle_location.
Retrofitting of GPS
A vehicle can be Retrofit with a GPS unit if it did not originally have one. There are three approaches that can be taken here:
Portable GPS
This type of installation is not permanently integrated into the vehicle, having only a simple bracket to mount the device on the surface of the dashboard and powered via the
car cigarette lighter. This class of GPS unit does not require professional installation and can typically be used as handheld device, too.
Benefits of this type of GPS unit include low cost as well as the ability to move them easily to other vehicles. However, their portability also means they are easily stolen if left inside the vehicle. Furthermore, not having a magnetic compass and being unable to use inputs from the vehicle's
Wheel speed sensor, means that they cannot use dead reckoning in tunnels where there's no GPS signal.
An portable automotive navigation system kit generally includes:
Original Factory Equipment
Many vehicle manufacturers offer GPS as an option in their vehicles. Customers whose vehicles did not ship with GPS can therefore purchase and
retrofit the original factory-supplied GPS unit. In some cases this can be a straightforward 'plug-and-play' installation if the required wiring harness is already present in the vehicle. However, with some manufacturers, new wiring is required, making the installation more complex.
The primary benefits of this approach are an integrated and factory-standard installation. Many original systems also contain a
gyrocompass or
Accelerometer, as well as accepting inputs from the vehicle's wheel speed sensor, thereby allowing them to navigate via
dead reckoning when a GPS signal is temporarily unavailable. However, the costs can be considerably higher than other options. In some cases, it may even be more economical to buy a similar vehicle that already has a factory-fitted GPS.
Aftermarket
A number of manufacturers supply
Aftermarket (automotive) GPS units that can be integrated permanently into the vehicle. A typical location for such an installation is the
DIN slot for the radio/tape/CD. However, in extreme cases, the dashboard may also be remodeled to accommodate the unit.
This approach can be considered a tradeoff between the previous two options. Benefits include a more secure and better cosmetic finish than a portable device, and lower cost compared to the installation of an original factory-supplied GPS.
Alternatives
Mobile Phones with GPS Capability
Commercial navigation software is widely available for most current smartphones as well as some
Java (programming language)-enabled phones that allows them to use an internal or external GPS receiver (in the latter case, connecting via
serial communications or
Bluetooth). Phones with this capability function no differently to a dedicated portable GPS receiver and may even use the same software.
More
bespoke solutions also exist for
mobile phones with GPS Phone. One such example is marketed by Verizon Wireless in the
United States, and is called "VZ Navigator." The system uses
gpsOne technology to determine a person's location, and then uses the mobile phone's data connection to download maps and calculate navigational routes.
SMS
Establishing
points of interest in real-time and transmitting them via
GSM cellular telephone networks using the
SMS (
SMS) is referred to as Gps2sms.
Some vehicles and vessels are equipped with hardware that is able to automatically send an
SMS text message when a particular event happens, such as:
- Theft
- Anchor drift
- Breakdown
The receiving party (e.g., a
tow truck) can store the waypoint in a computer system, draw a map indicating the location, or see it in an automotive navigation system.
Example Systems
See also
References
Automotive navigation system - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An automotive navigation system is a satellite navigation system designed for use in automobiles. It typically uses GPS to acquire position data to locate the user on a road in the ...
Navigation system - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Navigation system may refer to. Automotive navigation system; Inertial guidance system; Global Positioning System; Robotic mapping [edit] See also. Navigation (disambiguation ...
Automotive Navigation System Features Specification Database
Summary: Access this report: The Automotive Navigation System Features Specification Database provides details of the embedded navigation systems offered by automotive systems ...
Automotive Navigation Multi-Feature System Specification Database
Summary: Access this report: The Automotive Navigation Multi-Feature System Specification Database provides details of the navigation systems offered by automotive electronics ...
Auto Direct
North American Automotive and Consumer GPS Navigation System Markets
This study covers the North American market for global positioning system (GPS) receivers. Automotive units are defined as those sold as original equipment on new vehicles and ...
GPS Auto Navigation System
GPS Auto Navigation System. Which is The Best GPS Auto Navigation System or Portable Poll. ... In Your Opinion Which is The ...
Nokia - ShowPressRelease
Espoo, Finland - Nokia today announced its first dedicated personal navigation device to include Europe-wide maps, the Nokia 330 Auto Navigation, to take you across European ...
Tomtom Go 510 Automotive GPS Navigation System Video Review
Tomtom Go 510 Automotive GPS Navigation System Video Review - 11 min - May 15, 2006 www.cinemazement.com - www.cinemazement.com () Rate: My review of the Tomtom Go 510 Automotive ...
Experience Real Time Traffic with the Dash Navigation System
Dash keeps you up to date on the real time traffic speeds of your chosen route. You can avoid problem areas and know exactly how long it will take to get you where you need to go.