Navigation System Function: Description

• The navigation system can be operated by control panel of the AV control unit and display (touch panel) of the AV control unit.
• Guide sound during the operation of the navigation system is output from AV control unit to front speakers.
• AV control unit calculates the vehicle location based on the signals from GYRO (angle speed sensor), vehicle sensor, and GPS satellite, as well as the map data from map SD-card. The vehicle location is displayed on the AV control unit.

POSITION DETECTION PRINCIPLE

The navigation system periodically calculates the vehicle's current position according to the following three signals:

• Travel distance of the vehicle as determined by the vehicle speed sensor
• Turning angle of the vehicle as determined by the gyroscope (angular velocity sensor)
• Direction of vehicle travel as determined by the GPS antenna (GPS information)

The current position of the vehicle is then identified by comparing the calculated vehicle position with map data read from the map SD-card (map-matching), and indicated on the screen as a vehicle mark. More accurate data is judged and used by comparing vehicle position detection results found by the GPS with the result by map-matching.

The current vehicle position will be calculated by detecting the distance the vehicle moved from the previous calculation point and its direction.

• Travel distance

  Travel distance calculations are based on the vehicle speed sensor input signal. Therefore, the calculation may become incorrect as the tires wear down. To prevent this, an automatic distance correction function has been adopted.

• Travel direction

  Change in the travel direction of the vehicle is calculated by a gyroscope (angular velocity sensor) and a GPS antenna (GPS information). They have both advantages and disadvantages.

  Fig 1: Identifying Vehicle Current Position

  Courtesy of NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

More accurate traveling direction is detected because priorities are set for the signals from these two devices according to the situation.

MAP-MATCHING

Map-matching compares a current location detected by the method in the "Location Detection Principle" with a road map data from map SD-card.

Fig 2: Identifying Map-matching

Courtesy of NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

The vehicle position may not be corrected under the following circumstances and after driving for a certain time when GPS information is difficult to receive. In this case, the vehicle mark on the display must be corrected manually.

• In map-matching, alternative routes to reach the destination will be shown and prioritized, after the road on which the vehicle is currently driven has been judged and the vehicle mark has been repositioned.

  Alternative routes will be shown in different order of priority, and the incorrect road can be avoided if there is an error in distance and/or direction.

  Routes are of the same priority if two roads are running in parallel. Therefore, the vehicle mark may appear on either of them alternately, depending on maneuvering of the steering wheel and configuration of the road.

  Fig 3: Identifying Actual Vehicle Traced Route And Vehicle Route Indicated On Map Display (Road Data)

  Courtesy of NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
• Map-matching does not function correctly when a road on which the vehicle is driving is new and not recorded in the map SD-card, or when road pattern stored in the map data and the actual road pattern are different due to repair.

  The map-matching function may find another road and position the vehicle mark on it when driving on a road not present in the map. Then, the vehicle mark may change to it when the correct road is detected.

  Fig 4: Identifying Actual Vehicle Traced Route And Vehicle Route Indicated On Map Display (Road Data And Newly Constructed Road)

  Courtesy of NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
• Effective range for comparing the vehicle position and travel direction calculated by the distance and direction with the road data read from the map SD-card is limited. Therefore, correction by map-matching is not possible when there is an excessive gap between current vehicle position and the position on the map.