GB2333838A

GB2333838A - Method and apparatus for navigating a surface vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2333838A
Application number: GB9801671A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gary Micheal James Harding
Original assignee: MG Rover Group Ltd
Current assignee: MG Rover Group Ltd
Priority date: 1998-01-28
Filing date: 1998-01-28
Publication date: 1999-08-04
Also published as: GB9801671D0

Abstract

Apparatus for navigating a surface vehicle along an intended route is shown schematically in Figure 1. The position of the vehicle upon the Earth's surface, and hence the intended route, is determined by navigation means 6 carried by the vehicle. A store of data pertinent to an intended route of the vehicle is carried within data storage and retrieval means 8 provided within the vehicle. In use, information stored within the data storage and retrieval means 8 which is relevant to a point on the route is conveyed to the vehicle occupants by the communication means 4 when the navigation means 6 determine the vehicle is near the point. The communication means 4 may include a view screen and audio speakers, and the data storage and retrieval means 8 may take the form of an optical disc reader and one or more optical discs. The information may be conveyed by the communication means in text, photo, audio and/or video form. The stored information may include data relating to places of historic interest or recreational facilities, typical weather patterns, geographical data, opening hours of stores and historic buildings, etc.

Description

Method and Apparatus For Navigating A Surface Vehicle The present invention relates to surface vehicle navigation and in particular, though not exclusively, to the navigation of off-road vehicles.

It is becoming increasingly common for off-road vehicles to be fitted with navigation systems which enable the occupants of a given vehicle to either determine their position on the Earth's surface. Such systems may utilise data from satellites in earth orbit and/or data stored onboard the vehicle, the data being displayed to the occupants on, for example, a LCD screen. Problems exist in that the manner in which the navigation data is displayed to the occupants i.e. a co-ordinate reference or a point marked on a digitised approximation of a map, can lead to confusion if they are not familiar with the terrain upon which they are travelling. Furthermore, presently available vehicle navigation systems do not yield anything other than positional data and thus are suited to specialists such as the rescue services. the armed forces and geological exploration and survey parties. Conventional on-road navigation systems store only map information.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for navigating a surface vehicle comprising navigation means for determining the position of the vehicle upon the Earth's surface, data storage and retrieval means containing information relating to a point on an intended route of the vehicle, and communication means linked to both the data storage and retrieval means and navigation means for presenting the informatioti from the store to occupants of the vehicle when the vehicle is near the position on the route.

The data storage and retrieval means preferably comprise an optical disc reader and one or more optical discs.

The navigation means may utilise signals from Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites. Alternatively the navigation means may receive signals from beacons or transponders sited along an intended route of the vehicle. In yet a further embodiment the navigation means may comprise an inertial type guidance system.

The communication means may take the form of a screen. The communication means may be augmented by the provision of speakers either integral with or remote from the screen. The screen may act as user interface with the navigation means and/or the data storage and retrieval means. The screen may further be a LCD screen. In an alternative embodiment the communication means may take the form of a Head Up Display (HUD).

The information may be presented to the vehicle occupants in text, photo, audio and/or video form.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of navigating of a surface vehicle comprising the steps of: providing the vehicle with navigation means which permit the vehicles position upon the surface of the earth to be determined; further providing the vehicle with a store of data relating to an intended route of the vehicle; and presenting the occupants of the vehicle with data from the store, the data being relevant to the position of the vehicle upon the route as determined by the navigation means.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to figure 1 which shows a schematic representation of the components of a system 2 according to the present invention. The system 2 comprises communication means 4, navigation means 6, data storage and retrieval means 8, and means 10 to combine data from the navigation means 6 and the data storage and retrieval means 8 and supply it to the communication means 4.

In the embodiment of Fig 1, the communication means 4 comprises a screen, preferably a LCD screen, which is mounted on or near the dashboard of a vehicle in order that it may be viewed primarily by the driver and any front seat passengers. Loudspeakers may be provided either integral with or remote from the screen in order that audio information can be presented to the vehicle occupants in addition to any visual information displayed upon the screen. The screen may additionally utilise touch-screen technology to act as a user interface.

Alternatively user interface controls may be mounted in any casing or facia surrounding the screen, or elsewhere within the vehicle, for example, on the steering wheel.

The navigation means 6 determines the vehicle's position upon the Earth by utilising either signals from Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites. However other means may be used such as beacons or transponders sited around the route over which the vehicle is travelling, or altematively by inertial guidance means carried upon the vehicle.

The data storage and retrieval means 8 comprise one or more optical discs and an optical disc reader. Any other suitable system may be used, for example, data cards or ROM cartridges to store information. The data storage and retrieval means 8 may be sited in a secure location within the vehicle such as the boot.

The means 10 to combine data from the navigation means 6 and the data storage and retrieval means 8 comprises a separate processor unit, although it may be incorporated into any of the other units 4,6,8 of the system.

In use, additional information stored within the data storage and retrieval means 8 which is relevant to the position of the vehicle, as determined by the navigation means 6, is conveyed to the vehicle occupants by the communication means 4.

It is intended that routes of interest would be surveyed and information gathered during such a survey compiled upon an optical disc. The information may include factual data relating to places of historic interest or recreational facilities, typical weather patterns, geographical data, opening hours of stores and historic buildings, details of offers and discounts and details of service areas and restaurants to name but a few. The information may be presentable via an optical disc reader and suitable communication means to the vehicle occupants in text, photo, audio and/or video form. For example, a waypoint on an off road route could be indicated by video footage, a photograph of pertinent landmarks and a text description. The information would be presented to the vehicle occupants when the navigation means 6 determined the vehicle to be approaching the waypoint.

It is envisaged that the optical disc may hold information relevant to a number of routes and be interchangeable with other discs holding different information. Means may be provided to allow route information stored upon a disc to be accessed prior to embarking on a journey for the purposes of route planning.

Claims

1. Apparatus for navigating a surface vehicle comprising navigation means for determining the position of the vehicle upon the Earth's surface, data storage and retrieval means containing information relating to a point on an intended route of the vehicle, and communication means, linked to both the data storage and retrieval means and navigation means, for presenting data from the store to occupants of the vehicle when the vehicle is near the point on the route.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the data storage and retrieval means comprise an optical disc reader and one or more optical discs.

3. Apparatus as claimed in either of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the navigation means utilises signals from Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites.

4. Apparatus as claimed in either of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the navigation means utilises signals from transponders sited along the intended route of the vehicle.

5. Apparatus as claimed in either of claim I or claim 2 wherein the navigation means comprises an inertial guidance system.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein communication means comprises a view screen.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the view screen is a LCD screen.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the communication means are a Head Up Display.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the communication means includes audio speakers either integral with or remote from the screen.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding wherein the information is presented to the vehicle occupants in text, photo, audio and/or video form.

11. A method of navigating a surface vehicle comprising the steps of: providing the vehicle with navigation means which permit the vehicle's position upon the surface of the earth to be determined; further providing the vehicle with a store of data relating to an intended route of the vehicle; and presenting the occupants of the vehicle with data from the store, the data being relevant to the position of the vehicle upon the route as determined by the navigation means.