Satellite Navigation System on board cars has been on the run for last few years. And not amazingly, the pioneer in this line has always been BMW.
BMW first started to deal with Satellite Navigation System in the 90’s when they wanted to digitalize the whole road network of Germany. To localize the position of the car on the digital map, they used the GPS. GPS is the Global Positioning System invented by the United States Department of Defence.
GPS uses a constellation of artificial satellites orbiting around the Earth. The Satellites transmits a radio signal which is received by the GPS receiver. However, the satellite orbits are set in such a way that there are always more than four satellites above the horizon of a certain place. So, any GPS receiver would receive simultaneous signals from minimum four satellites. Since the signals from the satellites are synchronized with atomic clock, the differences of signals from different satellites allow the receiver to calculate its own position on the Earth’s surface.
The geographic location obtained by the GPS is referred in terms of latitude and longitude, the geographic co-ordinates. The accuracy of the position locating is around 100 meters.
Then the navigation system matches its database of maps and routes with the own position and displays a map of the locality with own position plotted. The system also indicates own direction of movement, speed and in some cases the altitude also. The database of the map is also very important component of the system. This could be a built-in memory or a removable memory like CD, flash drive or mini discs. The map data may contain multifarious information along with the roads. It may contain utility location, like gas stations, servicing centres, hotels, clinics, parking, police station, etc. you can plot your destination and the system will show you the recommended route to be followed. It may have inbuilt voice guidance system to help you take a turn without looking at the monitor. You can also customize your system, like adding a new stoppage or a location, or memorizing a particular route you followed.
BMW satellite navigation system also gets feedback from the multi-point navigation and map-matching. They are incorporated currently in various models like MINI and Series 7 cars. This is also available as options for the X5, 5, 3 and the compact model series.
BMW pioneered in-car satellite navigation when it took the initiative to map Germany's road network in the early '90s. This led to BMW becoming the first vehicle manufacturer to introduce a factory-fitted navigation system for the European market in 1994. Since then BMW has successfully introduced the navigation system in locations around the world, in models ranging in size from the MINI to the luxury 7 Series sedans.