Vehicle Navigation Systems

[Cheese]

Ok now Im sure that those of you who have this system understand that you need to use some common sense along with the directions....I guess some people are not dished a bunch of that at birth.


A German motorist followed the command "Turn right now!" from his navigation system and crashed into a small toilet hut by the side of the road -- about 30 yards before the crossing he was meant to take.

Look first!

[Jayems]

haha thats awesome. How dumb can you be. I turn the voices off when i use mine, its too annoying having a voice tell you to turn in 300m, then 100m then turn now. It tells you right on the screen how far to turn.. lol. good times.

[Frank the Tank]

If it happens in America, you can be sure the car company will be sued!!

[kermitology]

Yeah.. use that in the downtown core.. multipath puts you about two blocks off your actual course.

Silly motorists!

[I-Hate-Hulse]

One of the more useless options out there unless you're a delivery, taxi, or driver who's looking up addresses / directions constantly, IMHO. They're certainly cool as hell but for the 2-5 grand that manufacturers want for those, is it really worth it? No to mention the hatchet job it does to your dashboard with that big screen plunked in the middle, often assuming HVAC and radio duties.

[kermitology]

Just pick up a little Garmin or something for a few hundred bucks, put in your destination and follow the compass.

Plus you can go geocacheing.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by Frank the Tank

If it happens in America, you can be sure the car company will be sued!!

The United States: The Land Personal Responsibility Forgot.

[arsenal]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

One of the more useless options out there unless you're a delivery, taxi, or driver who's looking up addresses / directions constantly, IMHO. They're certainly cool as hell but for the 2-5 grand that manufacturers want for those, is it really worth it? No to mention the hatchet job it does to your dashboard with that big screen plunked in the middle, often assuming HVAC and radio duties.

In a few years I imagine as more people begin using them, I can see these being used as way to manage traffic.
The more people use them this will allow it to send the location of the vehicle to other GPS's in the vincinity. You can then determine how bad the traffic is in a certain part of the city.
If the system then out-updates your directions based on the traffic conditions, it can give you the fastest route to your destination. If it is able to then manage the amount of traffic it routes in each direction, you can then minimize traffic congestion.

I am not saying this will be a be all end all to traffic jams, but it could be an interesting development.

There already is a primitive version of this system being used in select cities in the states. It provides you with current traffic conditions, but does not provide you with the fastest route to your destination. It leaves that up to the driver to decide.

[drp_69]

Originally Posted by Frank the Tank

If it happens in America, you can be sure the car company will be sued!!

Yes. After that has happened, the insruction manual will be full of useless obvious saftey instructions and warnings like
' ensure that the car door is securely closed before proceeding ' .The kind of stuff you will find in the front of your car's owners manual!

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by arsenal

In a few years I imagine as more people begin using them, I can see these being used as way to manage traffic.
The more people use them this will allow it to send the location of the vehicle to other GPS's in the vincinity. You can then determine how bad the traffic is in a certain part of the city.

I'm just wondering if that would work. IIRC GPS is a one way communication.

Good idea though.

[Frank the Tank]

Originally Posted by drp_69

Yes. After that has happened, the insruction manual will be full of useless obvious saftey instructions and warnings like
' ensure that the car door is securely closed before proceeding ' .The kind of stuff you will find in the front of your car's owners manual!

I still laugh every time I buy a Tim's coffee and see the little graphic on the side "Caution: Hot". Oh thank GOD they warned me!!

[arsenal]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I'm just wondering if that would work. IIRC GPS is a one way communication.

Good idea though.

It would require an on-board computer, which, AFAIK the current navigation systems use. Use WiFi to communicate between vehicles, or if required, positions located around the city (maybe piggy back on cell towers).

Good for delivery drivers, excellent for emergency vehicles. Cabbies are able to get to and from locations faster. More fares = more money for them.

Anyone want to help me develop this?

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by arsenal

Anyone want to help me develop this?

You should apply at Mentor Engineering.. they have tracking systems for a lot of the bigger cab companies and tow trucks in the city as well as all over North America.

You'd just need some kind of communication medium to transmit user positions, be it wi-fi or whatever. Bigger thing is that most people don't like 'big brother' watching them do everything, so it's up to users to submit to it. The immediate extention could be watching drivers via their GPS. So you'd get a ticket for speeding because your GPS knows. Or failing to stop at a stop sign, etc..

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by arsenal

It would require an on-board computer, which, AFAIK the current navigation systems use.

Usually you need a microprocessor at least... I use a MicroBlaze in my receiver design.