From A-Z by vdu
Page 19
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
NISSAN has developed an onboard vehicle navigation system to help inexperienced delivery drivers avoid making errors.
The first vehicle to be equipped with the system was put into service by a Japanese department store earlier this month.
It has two types of software to provide both route guidance and delivery administration. Customer data such as name, address, phone number and a street map of the locality is stored in a main computer at the distribution centre.
Inside the cab is a floppy disk drive unit and a colour cathode ray tube display in front of the passenger seat.
When the driver inserts a floppy disk holding data on the day's deliveries, the screen displays a delivery list and sequence, and locality and detailed maps as required.
A light pen can be used by the driver to check off deliveries on the screen and to make sequence changes if necessary.
When the system is in the route guidance mode, the vehicle's position is shown on a map on the display. The position of the vehicle is pinpointed by the use of long range navigation waves. Transmitters and receivers of these waves have been used for some time to aid ship and aircraft navigation, but Nissan is believed to be the first manufacturer to develop a receiver capable of operating in a vehicle.
A microcomputer calculates the vehicle's position.