Maneuvering Through The Challenges In The Automotive Navigation and Mapping Sector

Hello and welcome to another chapter of our Digital Transformation In The Automotive Sector Guide series. In our specialized automobiles edition, we have been exploring diverse challenges prevailing in the automotive spectrum such as those in manufacturing electric vehicles, rolling out autonomous cars, telematics, and more. We've also been presenting the most credible solutions that can not only tackle but optimize processes as well.

In our series, the next topic we are about to explore is automotive navigation and mapping. If you think about it, cars exist for a reason. That is to transport people and goods from one place to another. And for that to happen, the car needs three basic information:

• the source of termination
• the destination
• and the route the vehicle should take for minimal strain

While our previous generations had it tough driving across new cities and destinations, ours has it comparatively easy all thanks to advanced GPS devices and navigation systems. With the help of these tech concepts, we now explore uncharted territories without any dependency on people or paper-based maps.

And cars today roll out with a GPS device embedded in them by default. With this becoming a necessity rather than a luxury, companies, and businesses associated with developing navigation and map applications and systems find it extremely challenging to offer the finest and the most precise details to their customers.

And this is exactly what we will delve into in this chapter. We will discuss the shortcomings in coming up with full-fledged automotive navigation and mapping solutions and how they need to be consistently updated for the most convenience to users.

Besides, we will also be sharing their most reliable solutions. So, are you ready?

Let's get started.

Challenges Involved In Automotive Navigation and Mapping

Driving Experience

Offering an optimum driving experience to drivers through an automotive navigation system is a major concern. A lot of data processing has to happen at the backend to offer driving details and navigation routes so drivers could seamlessly maneuver through the routes and reach their destinations intact. Firstly, a strong connection should be established between the GPS device and the satellite. Next, data transmission between the two points should be uninterrupted. Third, the GPS must be stable in its detection process and precisely show where a car is. All these have to work in tandem with each other for as long as the journey continues for drivers to reach from their source to their destination without confusion or stress.

Map Visualization

Map visualization refers to how smooth a navigation system renders raw data into a visualized format that is identifiable by a human. This means data crunching has to happen for coordinates and directions and all the roads, terrains, freeways, gullies, avenues, malls, buildings, shops, and more and be visually represented. The more precise information a navigation system collects and presents, the clearer the driver would be on where they are at any given point of time.

Map Accuracy

Map accuracy refers to how correct the details provided by the navigation device are. If there's a roundabout in another 500 meters, there should be one in the real world. And if there's a dead-end approaching in the next 700 meters, the map should know this and present it to the driver so the road could be avoided. From a holistic perspective, map accuracy becomes poor when there is:

• an absence of an element that is shown on the map
• and a presence of an element that is not on the map

Regulatory Compliance

The automotive navigation and mapping sector is heavy with regulatory compliances. There are diverse factors companies have to look into, implement and comply. To give you an idea of some aspects of compliances, here's a quick list:

• Vendor evaluation for cloud services automation collaboration
• risk assessments and management
• policy management at security levels
• policy management at government levels and more

Companies have to ensure all the compliances are met and adhered to at all times. 

Constant Updates For Maps

If you remember, the major problem with paper-based maps that we've used before GPS devices was that they became swiftly obsolete. Any change in the infrastructure demanded the release of an updated map. And for their digital counterparts, a similar procedure is inevitable. The only difference is that the updating process has to be in real-time.

A good navigation and mapping system should be constantly updated about approaching roadblocks, construction sites, congestion, bad weather, and more and notify drivers of the same. If there's no real-time update happening, drivers are more likely to get stuck in a traffic jam, bump into a dead-end, forced to take a detour because of construction processes, and more.

Response Time of GPS

The response time of GPS devices should be as fast as possible to offer instant information on diverse road details to drivers. When the GPS starts to buffer or provide obsolete information, drivers could land in trouble. And for that, the backend and frontend modules must operate at clockwork speeds to ensure data crunching, processing, and visualization all happen at the same time and in the most accurate manner.

Overcoming The Challenges In Automotive Navigation and Mapping

Precise GPS Location

For the best driving experience, navigation and mapping systems offer precise GPS location. This will allow drivers to know where they are, where they are heading to, the duration of the journey, and more. With precise GPS locations, drivers can also call for emergency services and seek remote assistance for vehicle diagnostics and servicing. In the case of commercial fleets, managers can also find out where their individual vehicles are, report stolen vehicles with location details, add geofencing and do more.

Real-time Traffic Information

With this feature, drivers can know the most updated information on traffic. This will empower them with better driving decisions as they would know which alternate route to take. Advanced navigation systems can also reroute automatically based on real-time traffic details. For instance, a navigation system can analyze the traffic for an entire journey and consistently take routing decisions for swift transportation. For sudden pile-up of vehicles, systems can instantaneously come up with new routes as well.

Turn By Turn And Voice Guidance

One of the most convenient and accessibility features offered by automotive navigation systems is voice guidance. Instead of making drivers manually look at the map and drive, voice guidance lets them focus only on the road by giving out properly dictated guidance to them. Every roundabout and every turn is dictated by these systems for drivers to seamlessly reach their preferred destination. The best part is that this guidance module can also be modified for language and accent settings for better understanding.

2D and 3D Rendering

Challenges in map visualizations can be tackled with advanced 2D and 3D rendering of maps. With 2D rendering, drivers get a flat navigation system and with 3D rendering, they get a better, immersive map. With the latter, even the most minute details can be visualized for identification. For instance, if a driver is looking for a unique landmark such as an apartment or a building, 3D renders can show them exactly that. As far as terrains and road conditions are concerned, 3D maps offer better visibility by giving them satellite views of roads and terrains. With this, drivers can know which terrain is sandy and treacherous, which is through lush forests and canopies, and more.

Online And Offline Search

One challenge we discussed was the constant need for connectivity for navigation systems to operate. However, this cannot be ensured when there are no telecommunication signals or receivers such as remote locations and mountain regions.

In that case, navigation systems offer a convenient solution where drivers can download maps offline and use them seamlessly like they would when connected to the internet. Either a single route or the map of an entire region can be downloaded into devices and systems for offline usage.

Map Compilation

Map compilation is the process that turns raw data into a version consumable by users. If we had to tell you a specific location on coordinates, it would be time-consuming for you to figure out where it is on the map, let alone reach on time. Such raw details have to be visualized and compiled into proper maps so users can simply enter the details, anchor the location and get going. 

E2E Integrated Navigation

E2E stands for End-to-End navigation. Implemented through a convolutional neural network, E2E teaches robots and devices to autonomously navigate by teaching them how to go straight, take a right, left or a U-turn and even when to stop. This is implemented on the road as well, where E2E navigation dictates cars to follow the route and take turn-by-turn navigations, diligently following the path laid out. 

Case Study

Waze

While we are all familiar with the awesomeness of Google Maps for maps and navigation, what arrived as a surprise with respect to automotive navigation was Waze. It's one of the most driver-friendly and intuitive apps in the market that eventually got acquired by Google for its stunning functionalities. Despite its new owner, the app operates as a standalone navigation app.

For starters, Waze offers the most precise updates on real-time traffic details in the US. It checks all the boxes on the solutions we discussed by offering voice guidance, turn-by-turn navigation, notifications on closed or blocked roads, and more.

Besides, it also goes a step beyond conventional navigation systems and acts as a medium for carpooling services. With this, drivers and passengers driving on the same route can help each other out. With offline maps and a feature where drivers can report accidents, congested or blocked roads, and more, Waze is really an ideal app to get inspiration from.

Mapping The Future of Navigation

Predicting the road ahead for the automotive navigation and mapping sector is interesting. There are tons of research and development happening on bringing in advanced GPS solutions to drivers as we discuss right now.

Market players like Garmin, Google, and others are working it out to make navigation as seamless as possible. As a step ahead, we believe that the future of automotive navigation will be a hybrid one. This means that vehicles will roll out with both hardware and software required for navigation.

Instead of relying on 3^rd party apps and peripherals, vehicles will launch with their own flagship devices that will offer offline usage without having to download maps, more precise map visualizations, real-time map compilation, and more. This development of in-house navigation systems will also mean no data sharing with 3^rd parties, which is increasingly becoming a concern of late.

Besides, we also see the barrier of constant connectivity getting eliminated with 5G technology awaiting massive deployment across the world. With advanced bandwidth and speed, navigation systems will have no problem transmitting and processing massive chunks of data in seconds.

Wrapping Up

So, as we mentioned, a flagship automotive navigation system is the future. So, if you're one of those businesses that want to develop and deploy an in-house maps system for your vehicle or commercial fleets, we highly recommend you get in touch with experts like us.

We will develop the most advanced and accurate navigation systems and applications that would complement your company's vision for the future.

Reach out to us today.