Speaking, interactive dashboard avatar could replace owner's manuals

The Avatar-based Virtual Co-driver System is designed to replace a vehicle's owner's manual with an interactive video avatar

At one time not all that long ago, cars had a warning light on the dashboard that simply said "ENGINE." That's pretty vague. Really, it might just as well have said "CAR." Some newer automobiles now have codes that appear on the console, which the driver must then look up in an index in the vehicle's owner's manual. Working with Audi, Germany's Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM) Institute of Business Informatics is now working on taking things a step farther, with the development of an on-screen avatar that will talk to drivers, and even understand their spoken questions.

The experimental Avatar-based Virtual Co-driver System (AviCoS) is designed to work with the monitor of the Audi Mulitmedia Interface, which already comes standard on all of the automaker's vehicles.

The system uses artificial intelligence to understand drivers' spoken questions about their car, and responds verbally. Descriptive images and videos also appear on-screen, with the animated avatar character pointing out relevant details. In Touch and Tell mode, drivers can also receive explanations of various vehicle functions by touching the appropriate areas of the screen.

As with many such driver assistance technologies, there is the possibility that AviCoS could distract drivers from paying attention to the road. The designers have somewhat addressed that problem, by suppressing first the image of the avatar, and then all of the graphics, as the vehicle's speed increases. Drivers remain able to converse with the avatar, however, which could still be distracting.

Down the road, the TUM researchers would like to see the system being able to identify the driver's state of mind, by analyzing their tone of voice and speech rhythm. If AviCoS determined that the driver was getting stressed out, it could lessen their sensory overload by suppressing its video output. Working with the car's other systems, it could also do things such as instructing the navigation system to provide directions earlier, and more often.

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Car navigation is a ripoff. Here’s why

By Bill Howard

As portable GPS systems free-fall below $200, automakers stubbornly keep prices of onboard navigation at $1500 to $2000. There are a host of reasons why and they help explain but hardly excuse the bloated pricing of embedded navigation. Some auto analysts say $1000 is the most you can justify for first-class onboard navigation and sooner or later that may be the most, not least you’ll pay for the superiority of built-in navigation. There’s increasing sentiment within the industry that you are indeed getting ripped off today buying navigation systems.

Why is onboard navigation so expensive? Thilo Koslowski, a VP of the Gartner Industry Advisory Service Manufacturing group, says “[Onboard navigation] could be under $1000 and still be a healthy value proposition” for both automakers and buyers.

Signs that the end is near for overpriced onboard navigation include the proliferation of navigation-and-other-stuff packages that mask a lowered price for the navigation part yet makes it harder for buyers to compare acrosse brands; short-term get-navigation-free-if-you-buy-or-lease-this-month offers; and innovative packages such as Ford’s SD card Sync navigation priced at $795. (Ford requires the car already have a color LCD display, so it’s not really sub-$1000 navigation.) Navigation is treated as an accessory, and accessories and options carry a higher markup than the base car. Koslowski says a price drop in a car accessory is often preceded by inclusion in a package.

Chris Schreiner, director of the automotive consumer insights practice at Strategy Analytics explains the conventional wisdom (“navigation has to cost a lot”) this way: “The main factor is the general cost of integrating the navigation system with the rest of the infotainment unit and the vehicle controls. A portable navigation device can be cheaper because it’s a standalone unit. The [onboard] nav system needs to be integrated with the steering wheel controls… and any other connected services.”

Other factors the can explain some of embedded navigation costs include larger displays, typically 7 inches diagonal and up to 10 inches, higher fees for the mapping software for embedded navigation, and even the warranty: PNDs are usually warranted for a year while a new car warranty runs three and sometimes four or five years.

Install navigation in a new Infiniti G37 and it costs $1850. On a BMW 3 Series it’s $1900, on a BMW 5 Series in a package with Bluetooth, USB, and mayday calling Series it’s $2,150 but currently free on the all-wheel-drive 5 Series. The Lexus ES system costs $2675 and that includes a rear sunshade. On cheaper cars such as the Chevrolet Malibu, it’s not offered at all, since buyers don’t see much value in an option that approaches 10% of the list price. (The Malibu does offer rudimentary arrows-only, no-moving-map, navigation as part of the $30 a month OnStar telematics service.) On many cars $50,000 and up, navigation is more likely to be included.

Portable navigation devices may not be the real competition. “The benchmark for the auto industry isn’t a competiting automaker,” explains Gartner’s Koslowski, “It’s a smartphone like the iPhone…” And with prices for navigation that range from free to $10 a month.

Kowslowski believes the right place for car navigation is embedded into the car. In the car, the display is bigger, it’s not likely to be stolen, and it can take advantage of a cellular data connection either from your mobile phone or an embedded cellular data modem. As hardware prices come down, more cars will embed data modems. Then the car can offer always-up-to-date map data, information on restaurants and hotels, and the possible recurring revenue stream from helping make reservations.

A first step in making navigation more affordable is decoupling the center stack LCD display from the navigation system. The upcoming Hyundai Veloster sports coupe (think of a Honda CR-Z as the competition) has a 7-inch LCD in every car, whether or not you buy navigation. Previously Hyundai has the industry’s cheapest navigation system in the last-generation Hyundai Sonata at $1250, and that included an LCD display.

The next step is up to the automakers: getting real on pricing.

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Vintage racecars, today’s sensors yield clues to tomorrow’s cars

The clue to making future cars feel more alive and in touch with the road may lie in understanding what makes old racecars perform the way they do. A team of researchers and engineers from Stanford took a vintage Porsche to the racetrack outfitted with sensors on both the car and driver to measure how they react. What they learn could make future cars feel better. It might also make Stanford’s autonomous, self-driving car capable of performing even closer to its theoretical limits.

Stanford started well. The team borrowed a 1960 Porsche 356B Carrera Abarth GTL racer from the collection of businessman, artist and philanthropist Miles Collier. (James Dean drove an earlier Porsche 356, including on his last and fatal drive.) The 356 is a seminal design in Porsche racing history. To that, they attached an array of sensors and data recorders on the suspension, throttle, brakes, and steering wheel. A GPS receiver and gyroscope track the car’s progress on the track with inch-by-inch accuracy, as well as measure body roll and acceleration / deceleration.

Then they went and outfitted the drivers with sensors, too, measuring sweat, core body temperature (we’re not asking where that sensor’s located), and blood volume — and future testing will include brain activity, too. These biological responses are then plotted against the data from the car. All this is being done at the historic Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California, during vintage races. (If academics don’t get rich from teaching, there are compensations such as this).

Drive an old racecar or a vintage performance car and you find two things: The controls and sometimes even the handling seem crude. Yet the car seems alive and in touch with the road. Good drivers can actually sense and react to the changing road surface through the feel transmitted from the tires and suspension to the body and steering wheel. The lack of sound insulation in older cars gives a better sense of the environment, too: gravel, rain or leaves under the wheels, for instance, or noises from the car body when it’s pushed in corners. That’s part of what Stanford wants to capture with all that test data.

Giving new cars that sense of oneness with the road is important. Mechanically assisted power steering, common for generations, took away some road feel, then it got better. Now it’s electric power steering that’s being blasted. When BMW switched from mechanical to electrically assisted power steering in the redesign of the BMW 5 Series (pictured right) a year ago, Car and Driver wrote, “The steering in the [BMW] 550i is by far its greatest downfall. The electrically assisted system is linear, but it feels artificially heavy and is devoid of feedback … the lack of feedback leaves one guessing the precise amount of input needed to control the vehicle.”

Stanford’s goals are multiple: improve the feel of future cars, improve their safety, and also help Stanford’s autonomous driving car do even better driving itself. Stanford and Carnegie-Mellon have been at the forefront of research into cars that drive themselves. Stanford’s current autononous driving car is an Audi TTS, called Shelley. Artificial intelligence computers in the trunk connect to the car’s existing controls (including an electronic throttle and electronic power steering).

“What we’re interested in here is understanding: How do the calculations of our autonomous car compare to very skilled drivers,” says Chris Gerdes, program director of the Center for Automotive Research at Stanford. “Do skilled drivers have an advantage because of their ability to adapt to conditions? Or does the autonomous vehicle have an advantage because of the ability to reproduce things exactly every time and have a much more precise understanding of where it is on the track at any given moment?”

The Stanford researchers, in the interests of science, will do a wash, rinse and repeat data-collection cycle on some of Collier’s other vintage cars (he has 100) to gather more data, and then do the same with modern vehicles. The data will be archived at the Stanford library.

Professor Cliff Nass, who directs the new interdisciplinary Revs Program at Stanford, says, “Eventually we will have a corpus, a set of every single car and driver, to be able to answer the question, ‘How do cars and drivers interact in the most compelling ways?’”

Read more at Stanford University, about the Porsche 356, or watch the video below :

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GM Facing Privacy Grilling Over OnStar GPS

David Kiley
Editor-in-Chief, AOL Autos

GM's OnStar system is stirring up controversy (GM).

Internet cookies, FourSquare, Facebook check-ins, street cameras everywhere and in-car global positioning systems. There are so many ways to track the movements of consumers, some for which they even volunteer. But people may have their limits.

The Internet and media are abuzz with complaints over the redesign of Facebook, which has been done to make it easier for the company to sell the online behavior of members to third parties. But the latest marketer to set off those who are against all this constant monitoring and tracking is General Motors and its satellite-based OnStar system that does everything from unlock your car when the keys are locked inside, to diagnose a mechanical problem, give you directions from a live person or notify first responders if your car goes off the road.

Last week, OnStar made a change to its "Terms and Conditions," that stipulates it can not only track data such as mileage, speed and location of vehicles, but that it can continue to do so even after the vehicle owner has stopped subscribing to the service, and can sell the data to third parties.

GM, which owns and operates OnStar, can do this because most of its cars are fitted with OnStar hardware. GM gives new buyers a trial period to subscribe to OnStar service packages. Then, they hope owners will re-up with subscriptions that start at $18.95 per month. OnStar also offers OnStar retrofit kits for non GM vehicles.

Senator Charles "Chuck" Schumer (D-NY) who often takes up consumer issues, is calling for a full investigation into OnStar's plan. "By tracking drivers even after they've canceled their service, OnStar is attempting one of the most brazen invasions of privacy in recent memory," said Schumer. "I urge OnStar to abandon this policy and for (the Federal Trade Commission) to immediately launch a full investigation to determine whether the company's actions constitute an unfair trade practice."

So far, GM executives are standing pat, saying over the weekend that it apologized for confusion over the move, but that they are planning to stick with it.

Joanne Finnorn, vice president of OnStar Subscriber Services issued a video of herself explaining the changes. Finnorn says that OnStar will not monitor continuous speed and location of vehicles, though such information is in the memory of the car and systems and can be accessed periodically. She also said OnStar does not have the capability to eavesdrop, though there is a voice connectivity between the driver and an OnStar representative when the OnStar button is pushed.

In explaining the new policy, Finnorn said, "OnStar will maintain a two-way connection to their vehicle unless they ask us not to do so [by specifically opting out after a subscription is canceled]." Like many issues that arise over privacy, GM, as with other marketers, have an "opt out" provision that enables consumers to do just that. Privacy hawks, though, want the systems to be opt-in, forcing consumers who don't mind to make the first move.

OnStar is part of the trend toward more so-called "telematics" in cars. The technology makes a vehicle a rolling smart-phone with as much hands-free operation as possible. OnStar was the first to enter into this area, and GM has, by far, the largest number of vehicles on the road with OnStar hardware installed.

The reason OnStar is a subscription base is that the system is hard-wired into the car. Other vehicle manufacturers, such as Ford, have installed systems that work with a consumer's own smart-phones and MP3 players via a bluetooth connection. OnStar is under pressure to make its system look like the better system, and generate more profit from the operation; hence the move to sell more data to third parties.

One of the sticky issues GM will have to grapple with is that GM is still approximately one-third owned by the Federal government. GM management is anxious for the government to sell its stake, dating back GM's 2009 bankruptcy and bailout by the taxpayer. But with GM's stock tanking to well below its 2010 offering price, the taxpayer would take a major hit if the government sold the stock now.

Taking a hard line against Senators that stood up for GM's bailout when the government still own one-third of the company could be more than awkward.

Source

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David Kiley
Editor-in-Chief, AOL Autos

David Kiley has been an award winning journalist covering the auto industry for more than two decades, writing for AOL Autos, BusinessWeek, USA Today and Automobile, Adweek and CNN. He is the author of two books: Getting The Bugs Out: The Rise …, Fall and Comeback of Volkswagen in America (John Wiley & Sons 2001), and Driven: Inside BMW, The Most Admired Car Company in the World (John Wiley, 2004). He has been a frequent analyst on CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, NPR and PBS, commenting on the auto industry. Kiley is also recipient of the Ken Purdy Award, given to one journalist annually by the International Motor Press Association, for excellence in auto industry journalism. Kiley lives in Ann Arbor, MI.

Mahindra XUV500 launched

Mahindra XUV 500

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. launched its global sports utility vehicle, XUV500, on 29 September 2011 at Pune. The eagerly awaited SUV has been launched within four weeks of its christening as XUV500, pronounced as XUV '5 double Oh'. Mahindra would start bookings for the SUV at dealerships across Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Pune from 1st October 2011.

XUV500 is powered by a 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine that churns out 140 bhp of power, 330 Nm of torque and has been mated with a 6-speed manual transmission. The car is capable to accelerate from 0 to 60 kmph in just 5.4 seconds. Apart from possessing an excellent power output and pick up, Mahindra XUV500 can deliver an ARAI-certified fuel economy of up to 15.1 kmpl.

Mahindra XUV 500

On the eve of the launch, Anand Mahindra, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Mahindra Group, said, “The launch of our 1st global SUV platform, the XUV500, is another proud moment in our automotive journey. For the Mahindra Group, the XUV500represents ‘Rise’ in action as the team deployed alternative thinking to deliver a high level of technology and performance at an unbeatable price. I am confident that the XUV500 will create a brand new category in the premium SUV segment and find favour both in India and overseas.”

The styling of Mahindra XUV500 is believed to have been inspired by Cheetah, which is known for its agility and power. Subsequently, XUV500 has a unique visual impact that also includes certain intimidating features, one of them being the radiator grille in the front. Accessories like LED parking lamps, projector headlamps, integrated bumpers, alloy wheels and twin-exhausts, add to the 'Oomph' factor of Mahindra XUV500. The SUV that will be available in 7 exciting colours namely, Volcano Black, Dolphin Grey, Moondust Silver, Opulent Purple, Amazon Green, Tuscan Red and Satin White, would ensure a striking on-road appearance.

Inside the cabin, XUV500 has a 6-inch touch screen infotainment system that includes FM, CD player with MP3 compatibility, USB and iPod connectivity as well as Global Positioning System (GPS). Mahindra XUV500 has dual HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) and fully automatic temperature control. Moreover, it has audio, blue sense mobile phone connectivity and cruise control buttons on the steering wheel, voice commands, light and rain sensors, intellipark reverse parking system and a tyre pressure monitoring system.

For extra comfort and convenience, Mahindra XUV500 comes with leather seats, completely foldable second and third row seats, power adjustable and foldable outside rear view mirrors (ORVMs), tilt and telescopic steering and an 8-way adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support.

Vide the global SUV by Mahindra has been built completely in-house, having a monocoque body, that provides an exceptional power-to-weight ratio and handling ability to the car. Safety and stability features like, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD), 6 airbags (front, side and curtain), Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with roll over mitigation, Hill Hold Control and Hill Descent Control are also a part of the powerful SUV.

Mahindra has presented XUV500 with a highly competitive price range. The base variant, W6, is priced at around Rs. 10.80 lacs, while the mid variant W8 2WD (4x2) has a price tag of Rs. 11.95 lacs. The top-end variant W8 AWD (All-Wheel Drive) will come at a price of Rs. 12.88 lacs.

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Tips Memilih GPS di Sepeda Motor

GPS yang dipasang di sepeda motor. (autoevolution)

TEMPO Interaktif, Sepeda motor bukan sekadar alat transportasi biasa. Ada sensasi berbeda saat seseorang mengendarai kendaraan roda dua tersebut.

Jika Anda biker sejati, tak ada salahnya melengkapi motor kesayangan dengan gadget canggih. Alasannya beberapa teknologi yang tersedia di pasaran mampu membuat perjalanan menjadi lebih nyaman, bebas stres dan menyenangkan.

Salah satunya GPS atau Global Positioning System. Ini adalah sistem navigasi yang umum digunakan di setiap kendaraan. Sistem ini didesain untuk memberikan posisi dan kecepatan serta informasi mengenai waktu secara berkelanjutan di seluruh dunia tanpa bergantung pada waktu dan cuaca.

Kehadiran GPS memungkinkan penggunanya menemukan tempat menarik seperti pompa bensin, restoran, hotel, sekaligus memandu penggunanya agar tidak tersesat.

Tapi ada beberapa pertimbangan yang harus diperhatikan saat para biker akan memasang alat ini seperti yang dimuat laman autoevolution.

Pertama, anda harus memastikan GPS tersebut bisa dioperasikan meski menggunakan sarung tangan. Kedua, pilih GPS yang mudah dibaca di bawah tengah terik matahari, tahan air, dan bisa digunakan pada malam hari. Dan yang terakhir pilih GPS yang memiliki waktu.

Selain GPS, beberapa gadget canggih yang bisa dipasang di sepeda motor Anda di antaranya radar sepeda motor, interkom, dan helm berkamera.

RUDY

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Honda Upgrade Motor Touring Gold Wing 2012

(foto: IST)

JEPANG- Honda dikabarkan akan Merilis GL1800 Gold Wing 2012 dan segera memamerkannya di International Motorcycle Show 2011 (25-27 Februari), di Greenville, South Carolina, dan Daytona Bike Week 2011 (5-12 Maret), Daytona Beach, Florida, Amerika.

Motor gede yang pernah popular di Amerika Utara, Eropa Barat dan Australia ini, akan mengalami beberapa perubahan dan akan diluncurkan di Amerika bulan Mei 2011. Sedangkan untuk Eropa Honda akan memasarkanya di tahun 2012.

Hondapun memperbarui beberapa fitur elektroniknya, seperti sistem navigasi GPS yang dilengkapi dengan programabilitas user-friendly, yang dapat diakses secara online, untuk berbagi rute perjalanan favorit dengan pengendara lain. Dilansir dari Motorcycle-usa.com, Selasa (22/2/2011).

Selain itu, GL1800 Gold Wing 2012 menambahkan perangkat MP3/iPod yang dapat terintegrasi dengan teknologi SRS CS Auto surround sound system, sehingga walau sedang berada di atas motor, pengendara masih dapat mendengarkan lagu dengan jelas.

GL1800 Gold Wing 2012 menggunakan Mesin 1832cc liquid cooled 6 silinder SOHC PGM-FI, dengan lima kecepatan, plus electric Reverse dan kompresi rasio 9,8 : 1.

"Model Goldwing 2012 baru akan benar-benar di rilis, untuk menggambarkan keragaman yang besar yang kita miliki dan dapat dalam gaya mesin untuk pelanggan Honda, Gold Wing dan Foreman berfungsi sebagai perpanjangan terbaru model sangat populer yang telah membangun basis penggemar setia dan besar di bidang masing-masing selama bertahun-tahun,” ucap Manager Powersports, Bill Savino.

Harga Goldwing 2012 yang akan dijual di America dibanderol dengan harga dari 23.199 USD sampai 28.499 USD atau bila dirupiahkan sekitar Rp 206 juta sampai Rp 250 juta. (uky)

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Telematics-based system rewards good teen drivers with savings on insurance

The insurethebox system uses telematics to monitor teens' driving habits, and rewards good drivers with savings on their car insurance

It's no secret that teen drivers have to pay higher automobile insurance rates than most people - after all, they're less experienced, and some of them can be pretty reckless. If you're a good teen driver or one that doesn't drive much, however, it might seem rather unfair that you have to pay rates that are based on the worst driving habits of your peers. Well, Gibraltar-based insurethebox has what it claims is a better alternative - teens' cars are fitted with a telematics box that records the way and amount that they drive, and they end up paying less for their insurance if they drive well.

Because teens may not drive as much as most adults, the insurance is purchased in packages of miles. Each annual policy comes with a base 6,000 miles (9,656 km), to which separately-purchased top-up bundles can be added as needed.

The Clear Box, as it's called, is about the size of a smartphone, and incorporates features such as GPS, logging units, an accelerometer and antennas, all of which are managed by a microprocessor. It is installed behind the dashboard, and records data such as distance traveled, number of trips made, speeds maintained on different types of roads, smoothness of driving, and time of day that trips are made. This information is regularly sent via satellite to a remote server, where it is uploaded onto each user's web portal. There, clients can see for themselves how their profile is progressing.

While poor drivers aren't penalized per se, good drivers receive bonus miles, which can be rolled over to their next year if not used right away. Shopping at participating UK retailers will also earn clients reward miles, that will be credited to their policy.

In the event of an accident, the Clear Box will act more like a black box, recording the time and location of the event, the force of impact, the direction of travel, and the speed of the vehicle prior to and after the incident. Not only will this information have an affect on the user's profile, but it could also be useful in court, or if the driver needs assistance at the time of the accident. The box can also be used to track the car if it's stolen.

Prices of policies are based on factors such as age and location. Quotes can be obtained via the insurethebox website.

While it doesn't include an insurance policy, the tiwi is similar to the Clear Box, in that it monitors young drivers and provides them with an online progress report on their skill behind the wheel.

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Eco-Navigator keeps driving as clean and efficient as possible

The Eco-Navigator provides real-time fuel consumption and CO2 output data to drivers, to help them drive cleaner and more efficiently (Image: Earthrise)

Pretty much everyone knows that driving too fast wastes fuel and creates excess carbon emissions, as does revving the engine and not bothering with tune-ups. We can try to alter our driving habits accordingly, but how can we know how much to alter them? What speed should we drive at when, and how often should we take our car to the garage? These questions can be instantly and completely answered, right in your car, if you’re using an Eco-Navigator device.

First of all, as a GPS navigation device, the Eco-Navigator does the usual job of showing and telling you how to get places, utilizing Navteq maps of the U.S., Canada, Europe and China. It also provides high-speed internet access, along with various other features. Its Eco-Way mode, however, is what makes it special.

The device plugs into your car’s diagnostic port, which both provides it with power and allows it to monitor and display a number of vehicle parameters. When the Eco-Drive screen is selected, it displays your current miles-per-gallon, throttle position (as a 0-100 percentage), and pounds of CO2 emitted per mile. Moving to the Eco-Score screen will show you how those current specs compare to your overall cumulative score, or to some other benchmark such as your car’s EPA rating, a fleet average, or averages maintained by other drivers of the same car.

If your current MPG and/or CO2 is considerably worse than it ought to be, you can then slow down, shift to a higher gear, or otherwise change your driving behavior until the unit indicates that things have improved. Of course, it’s possible that your substandard results could be due to the state of your engine. By clicking on Check Car, you can instruct the Eco-Navigator to run through all your engine’s diagnostic codes, and alert you to anything that needs your attention.

Each of your trips are logged upon completion, so you can go back and look at how you performed overall, and how different runs of the same route compare from day to day.

If you go into Eco-Route mode, it will select a route based not necessarily on getting you to your destination as fast as possible, but on using as little fuel as possible to get there.

The type of driving that the Eco-Navigator encourages is known as eco-driving, and is popular enough in Europe that it is now part of the driver education curricula in some countries. European drivers have reported fuel savings of 5 to 15 percent by adopting it. As part of an experiment in bringing eco-driving to America, last year the University of California - Riverside equipped 20 drivers with Eco-Navigator devices, and reported fuel economy improvements of 6 percent on city streets and 1 percent on highways. A similar test is being conducted in the San Francisco area this year, with plans for a much larger-scale test in the future.

Retailers that sell the Eco-Navigator are listed on the product website. It sells for US$249.

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TomTom dan Renault meluncurkan alat navigasi mobil built-in pertama untuk mobil listrik

Perusahaan alat navigasi ternama, TomTom bekerjasama dengan Renault telah meluncurkan alat navaigasi built-in (sudah terpasang di dashboard) pertama untuk sebuah mobil listrik.

  

Yang membuatnya berbeda adalah alat navigasi ini terintegrasi dengan informasi baterai mobil listrik yanng ada di dalamnya.

Dengan terintegrasinya sistim baterai maka rute perjalanan yang akan kita tempuh sekaligus dapat menginformasikan apakah kapasitas baterai yang ada cukup untuk menempuh jerak tersebut.

Alat navigasi ini nantinya juga bisa memberikan rute yang paling optimal sehingga kita bisa menghemat baterai mobil.

Selain itu, melalui layar yang ada kita juga bisa mengetahui secara langsung dimana tempat pengisian baterai terdekat sehingga mobil listrik kita tidak kehabisan baterai di tengah perjalanan.

Mobil listrik  Renault Fluence Z.E akan menjadi mobil listrik pertama yang akan menggunakan alat navigasi TomTom.

Fitur utama :

• Fungsi route mobil listrik, termasuk route terdekat ke tempat pengisian baterai terintegrasi dengan kebutuhan baterai mobil
• Fungsi Route Ekonomis
• Visualisasi dari jangkauan yang tersedia baterai pada tampilan peta dan navigasinya
• Pembaruan otomatis saat di stasiun pengisian baterai, fungsi pencarian untuk mencari stasiun terdekat biaya, serta sekitar tempat tujuan atau tempat yang lainnya
• HD Lalu Lintas - kombinasi unik real-time traffic, didasarkan pada jaringan lebih dari 80 juta probe di Eropa dan routing dinamis
• Pencarian Lokal
• Cuaca
• Keamanan kamera alert, untuk membantu mengemudi lebih aman dan bertanggung jawab.
• Rute IQ teknologi sehingga pengguna selalu mendapatkan rute terbaik ke tujuan nya. Teknologi ini menghitung rute Anda berdasarkan pada kecepatan rata-rata riil yang diukur di jalan. Selalu menyediakan Anda dengan rute tercepat, dan waktu perjalanan yang paling akurat, jam-demi-jam, hari demi hari, menghemat waktu, uang dan bahan bakar.
• Bimbingan Lane yang maju menunjukkan jalur untuk mengambil di persimpangan sehingga Anda tidak kehilangan giliran Anda. Di persimpangan jalan raya yang paling sulit, representasi 3D realistis dari persimpangan terus pelanggan santai dan aman.
•   TomTom Berbagi Peta memungkinkan pengguna untuk melakukan koreksi terhadap peta / nya sendiri dan dapat manfaat dari ribuan koreksi yang dibuat oleh pengguna TomTom setiap hari.

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New GPS System Boosts Accuracy To 3 Cm

Existing GPS systems usually achieve an accuracy of about 10m, but that will change soon, according to a recent report in Japanese business daily The Nikkei: a new technology developed by Mitsubishi and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) improves that number to an unbelievable 3cm.

This record for a non-military system was achieved during a recent public test in Japan, with a car driving at 20km/h. The car (see picture above) was equipped with a conventional GPS system, but signals from Michibiki were complementing the GPS readings (Michibiki is one of JAXA’s satellites currently orbiting Earth).

JAXA and Mitsubishi claim former tests have shown their system maintains its accuracy with cars even driving up to 80km/h. The makers also say that because Michibiki can cover Japan for just eight hours a day, two more satellites are needed to provide high-quality GPS for 24 hours straight.

Not too surprisingly, JAXA and Mitsubishi see the new tech used for future car navigation systems but also for advanced construction machines, child monitoring systems or travel guidance solutions.

Source

2012, Era Mobil Kendali Otomatis Dimulai

dailymail.co.uk

INILAH.COM, Jakarta – Nevada menjadi negara bagian Amerika Serikat (AS) pertama yang meloloskan UU mobil kendali otomatis ini. UU ini akan berlaku pada 1 Maret 2012.

UU baru ini memerintahkan Kementerian Kendaraan Bermotor (DMV) untuk, “Mengadopsi regulasi otorisasi operasi kendaraan otomatis di Nevada”. Menurut UU itu, ‘kendaraan otomatis’ merupakan kendaraan yang menggunakan ‘intelijens buatan, sensor dan GPS guna menyetir sendiri tanpa intervensi aktif operator manusia’.

UU ini meminta DMV membuat SIM untuk kendaraan semacam ini. Kendaraan kendali otomatis ini telah diuji Google. Terbaru, Volkswagen (VW) juga melakukan pengujian pada mobil otomatisnya.

VW menggunakan program ‘autopilot sementara’ yang mampu mengendalikan mobil menggunakan sistem radar, pindai laser dan sensor ultrasonik untuk menentukan posisi terkait mobil lain, untuk melambat jika ada belokan dan banyak lagi.

Google mengklaim, kendaraan semacam ini bisa mengurangi kecelakaan di jalan hingga setengahnya. Bersiaplah, masa depan sudah di depan mata. [mor]

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GPS Bawaan Produsen Mobil Tidak Berguna di Yordania

AMMAN, KOMPAS.com - Setiap tahun 10.000 unit mobil dari Jepang, Amerika Serikat atau Eropa yang dijual di Yordania, ternyata seluruhnya dibekali dengan sistem navigasi global positioning system (GPS) bawaan pabrik (built-in). Sayang, fitur tersebutcuma pajangan karena tak bisa menggunggah (up load) peta Yordania. Pasalnya, peta tersebut tidak dijual dengan bebas dan dilindungi undang-undang hak cipta.

Satu-satunya badan yang punya wewenang peta negara tersebut adalah NAVTEQ, di bawah supervisi dan lisensi Pusat Geografis Kerajaan Yordania. Karena itu, pengguna mobil hanya bisa menggunakan GPS purna jual (personal navigation devices/PND) atau ponsel dan harus dibeli 165-500 dinar (Rp 2,1 juta-Rp 6,3 juta) plus pajak barang mewah 200 dinar (Rp 2,5juta) untuk setiap unit.

"Butuh waktu satu tahun bagi NAVTEQ memiliki peta Yordania dan sudah menghabiskan dana 1 juta dolar Amerika Serikat. Kami tak menjual peta ke publik umum," ujar Laith Hammo, Vice Presiden Arab Regional Company for Technology and Telecommunications, kepada The Jordan Times kemarin.

Kebijakkan yang terkesan kaku tersebut tetap dipegang teguh Kerajaan Yordania karena pengalaman yang terjadi pada 2004. Kala itu, NAVTEQ berhasil menciptakan peta negara-negara timur tengah dan dijual secara massal ke umum. Akibat yang tidak diperhitungkan, pembajakkan merajalela , perusahaan tak kunjung balik modal.

Nabil Rumman, Ketua Umum Asosiasi Investor di Yordania menambahkan, sedikitnya 60.000 mobil punya sistem navigasi built-in yang sudah masuk sejak 2005. GPS tidak punya peta Yordania.

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Toyota - iPhone Persiapkan Backseat Driver

Liputan6.com, Jakarta: Apakah Anda pernah sulit berkonsentrasi saat mengemudi karena tingkah anak? Bisa jadi, kondisi itu jadi persoalan banyak keluarga muda saat berkendara. Maklum, si buah hati acap tak bisa duduk diam dengan tenang ketika di dalam mobil. Fakta itulah yang disimak betul oleh Toyota, yang menawarkan solusi yang memungkinkan anak Anda duduk manis selama dalam perjalanan.

Menjelang pertengahan Juli ini, Toyota Astra Motor telah menyiapkan aplikasi khusus untuk anak Anda. Namanya, Backseat Driver, yang tersedia di iPhone. Aplikasi yang dilengkapi dengan iPhone Global Positioning System tersebut membuat anak Anda seolah tengah ikut mengemudikan mobil bersama dengan Anda. Seru, kan?

Dengan teknologi GPS tadi, Backseat Driver akan mengetahui atau mengikuti rute yang ditempuh mobil Anda. Si buah hati pun seolah akan mengemudikan mobil lewat ponsel yang sesuai dengan rute aktual yang tengah dijalani.

Seperti permainan "perjalanan virtual", anak-anak bisa berhenti di mana pun dan juga memperoleh poin. Semakin banyak poin yang diperoleh, semakin besar peluang untuk mendapatkan mobil yang lebih bagus.

Menurut Toyota seperti yang dilansir di laman resminya, game ini cukup memberikan pengalaman mengemudi seperti di alam nyata (virtual driving experience), sekaligus melatih dasar-dasar keterampilan berkendara. Dan yang pasti, sambil bersenang-senang.(EPN/ANT)

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Is this the future of in-car navigation?

If AIDA ever sees the light of day, the way we're issued commands in the car may change forever. This robot is being designed to rise from your car's dashboard, look at you with puppy dog eyes and issue its commands.

Picture from AIDA  

Car maker Volkswagen and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have joined forces to produce, what could be, the future of in-car navigation. AIDA (Affective Intelligent Driving Agent) rises from the car’s dashboard to emote different expressions based on how the driver is feeling. These expressions are determined by analyzing the results of a series of sensors placed in the steering wheel and on the outside of the car. The plan is make it as friendly as a driving companion, but without the backseat driving. As well as the emotions, AIDA will be able to provide you with assorted routes that will intelligently adapt to your needs. The plan is that as well as getting you from A to B, it could determine that you need to refuel or go to the shops and reroute you accordingly. These automatic waypoints could be predetermined based on your preferences and driving habits.

Picture from AIDA

Research shows that drivers perform better when there is a passenger in the car and the aim of AIDA is to make it realistic enough that we want to do as it asks because of its puppy-dog eyes and hang-dog expressions and not because it whines at us.

Gill Leshed, a researcher at Cornell University, but not associated with the AIDA project, believes that the social dynamics of the car could change and is quoted as saying "It's not just sitting in the back, it's sitting in a very dominant, active place in the car," says Leshed. "It's going to change the different roles and responsibilities for each person who rides in the car." Just as we each respond to others differently, individual drivers are expected to form different relationships with AIDA Of course Volkswagen aren’t the only manufacturer to think of this idea, Nissan and Pioneer are working on their own dashboard mounted passengers. But, the question remains, would you rather be told what to do by a Wall-E style character or the disembodied voice from your current GPS?

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