System Description: Overview

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2013 Acura MDX, 2012 Acura MDX, 2011 Acura MDX, and 2010 Acura MDX. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The navigation system is a highly-sophisticated, hybrid locating system that uses satellites and a map database to show you where you are and to help guide you to a desired destination.

The navigation system receives signals from the global positioning system (GPS), a network of 24 satellites in orbit around the earth. By receiving signals from several of these satellites, the navigation system can determine the latitude, longitude, and elevation of the vehicle. In addition, signals from the system's yaw rate sensor and the PCM (vehicle speed pulse) enable the system to keep track of the vehicle's direction and speed of travel.

This hybrid system has advantages over a system that is either entirely self-contained or one that relies totally on the GPS. For example, the self-contained portion of the system can keep track of vehicle position even when satellite signals cannot be received. When the navigation system is on, the GPS can keep track of the vehicle position even when the vehicle is transported by ferry.

The navigation system applies all location, direction, and speed information to maps and calculates a route to the destination entered. As you drive to that destination, the system provides both visual and audio guidance.

The navigation system also uses dynamic route guidance to help avoid traffic delay and incidents. Clients need to subscribe to real-time traffic for this function to work.

This navigation system also has voice recognition that allows voice control of most of the navigation functions. The TALK and BACK buttons on the steering wheel activate the voice control. The voice control also allows control of the audio and climate functions.

The illumination signal (headlights ON) is used by the audio-navigation unit to automatically switch the display between Night and Day brightness modes. When the instrument panel brightness control is set to full brightness, the navigation system stays in the day mode, even with the headlights on.

The GA-NET II communication bus passes information back and forth between the navigation display, the audio-navigation unit, the RES/audio system, the HFL, and AcuraLink. The information passed on this bus is audio climate control settings directed by the audio-navigation unit.

The Comm. Bus connects the HFL, XM (HIP) (AcuraLink), and audio-navigation units. This bus supports these functions:

The audio-navigation unit receives traffic, weather, and AcuraLink message information from the AcuraLink control unit.
The audio-navigation unit sends a POI phone number (on the Calculate route to screen) to the HandsFreeLink control unit for dialing.
If vehicle problems are detected, and the client's cellular contract includes data service, then the AcuraLink control unit (XM receiver) can send vehicle data to the HFL unit for transmitting back to the AcuraLink servers.
The AcuraLink server can pass additional problem details back through the AcuraLink control unit, to the audio-navigation unit for display.