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In 1981, the Honda Electro Gyrocator emerged as the world's first map-based navigation system. It was later improved as a digital map navigation system and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. commercialized the Birdview Navigation system that adopted an overhead view for the first time in the world in 1995. Furthermore, in 2003, the Honda Internavi Premium Club, the world's first Floating Car System was commercialized in combination with information communication technology. This system collects traffic information from vehicles and provides it to users.
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The world's first map-based information system.
In principle, the moving direction and distance of a vehicle are detected by a precise gas-rate gyro sensor and a distance sensor calculated by tire-rotation. A microcomputer is used to integrate temporal changes of these two movements instantaneously, and continuously memorizes and adds these values to calculate the amount of vehicle movement. The system also displays the amounts on a screen with the transparent map sheet as a route, thereby enabling extremely precise confirmation of the vehicle progress and present position and allowing the best route to be selected easily |
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| Storage location | : | Honda Collection Hall in Twin Ring Motegi, 120-1 Oaza Hiyama, Motegi-machi, Haga-gun, Tochigi | |
| Year manufactured | : | 1981 | |
| Manufacturer | : | Honda Motor Co., Ltd. | |
| Classification | : | Mass-production system | |
| Current status | : | Not open to the public | |
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| Model name | : | Honda Electro Gyrocator | |
| Model name | : | Honda Electro Gyrocator | |
| Technical applications | : | In-vehicle navigation system | |
| Applied model | : | Honda Accord saloon in 1981, Honda Vigor saloon in 1981 | |
| Year manufactured | : | 1981 | |
| Application year | : | 1981 | |
| Designed by | : | Honda R&D Co., Ltd. | |
| Collaboration | : | Alps Electric Co., Ltd., Alpine Electronics, Inc., Stanley Electric Co., Ltd., Shobunsha Publications, Inc., Mitsubishi Pensil, Co., Ltd. | |
| Device structure | : | Display, navigation computer, direction sensor, driving distance sensor, specialized map, marking pen | |
| Display portion | : | 6 inch, monochrome (green) CRT | |
| Performance function | : | The route is displayed on the 6-inch monochrome (green) CRT while the vehicle position mark (a large round mark) and the vehicle direction mark (a cross) are displayed at the edge. The display can be altered for scale, position, rotation angle, brightness, and contrast. The map sheet is inserted in the opening between the display and the operation portion. After the map sheet is rotated and moved in accordance with the route display, the map fix lever is pressed down to fix the map sheet. It is possible to enter the destination and the scheduled course on the map sheet using a special erasable pen.
Main specifications
Display P31 fluorescent 6 inch CRT
Effective display screen size: 80 mm x 100 mm
Route display length: 80 mm max.
Effective scale range: 1/7,000 to 1/400,000
Computer: 16-bit microprocessor (external bus 8-bit)
ROM 10 KB, SRAM 1 KB, DRAM 16 KB
Driving distance sensor: 8-pole magnet rotation, Hall IC pickup
Direction sensor: gas-rate gyrosensor (helium gas)
Detection range: -70 deg/sec to +70 deg/sec
Output sensitivity: 5 V/(100 deg/sec)
Map: 0.1 t lumirror film permeable offset printed sheet
Sheet size: A5
Basic scale: 1/250,000
Power: DC 12V automobile battery
Power consumption: average 3.5 A (during warm up: 12 A max.)
Weight: approximately 9 kg
Usable temperature range: display = -30°C to +80°C
Computer = -30°C to +60°C
Running distance sensor = -30°C to +120°C
Direction sensor = -30°C to +60°C | |
| Effect | : | Actual running evaluation tests and user monitor tests were conducted under various conditions including congested urban roads, local roads off main roads, highways, and mountain roads. The results showed that it was greatly effective for the following items, although slight issues such as in handling of the map sheet remained.
- Great sense of stability on roads driven for the first time, which is often a cause of concern.
– Driver can avoid unexpected traffic jams and construction as smoothly as local drivers.
- It is possible to reduce driving fatigue, time and fuel consumption since it is possible to select the shortest and best route for long distances.
– It is possible to detect and correct route errors immediately.
– The system relieves concern and provides good navigation in places without easily visible signs and landmarks at night. | |
| Points of interest, topicality | : | Conventional navigation systems displayed only the destination direction and the remaining direct distance but this, the world's first map navigation system installed in the Accord and Vigor shows the vehicle position directly on the map. Adoption of a gyro system and not a geomagnetic sensor allows the direction angle to be detected without being affected by disturbance. Usage of such a map-based/gyro system became the mainstream for subsequent navigation systems. | |
| Features | : | Using this system, the previous route and the present position of the vehicle can be confirmed accurately on a map. As a result, the route and the direction to be taken is clarified. Even when a position error occurs, the automobile position can be determined and corrected in a simple manner by checking the route and the road shape. | |
| Reference materials | : | Honda Motor Co., Ltd. HONDA NEWS, The driving assistance equipment "Honda Electro Gyrocator" for which the automobile gyro is commercialized for the first time in the world was developed., August 24th 1981
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. publicity material, Honda Electro Gyrocator, August 24th 1981
Tagami et al., Jidoshayo kansei kouhousouchi "Electro Gyro-Cator", Automotive Engineering, Vol. 36, No. 5
Tagami et al., Jidoshayo kansei kouhousouchi no kaihatsu, Keisoku to seigyo, Vol.21, No.7, 1982
k. Tagami et al., "Electro Gyro-Cator" New Inertial Navigation System for Use in Automobiles, SAE Technical Paper 830659, 1983 | |
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