System Description: Notes

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Nissan Murano. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The navigation system periodically calculates the vehicle's current position according to the following three signals: Travel distance of the vehicle as determined by the vehicle speed sensor, turning angle of the vehicle as determined by the gyroscope (angular velocity sensor), and the direction of vehicle travel as determined by the GPS antenna (GPS information).

The current position of the vehicle is then identified by comparing the calculated vehicle position with map data read from the map DVD-ROM, which is stored in the DVD-ROM drive (map-matching), and indicated on the screen with a current-location mark.

Fig 1: Navigation System Description Chart

Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.

By comparing the vehicle position detection results found by the GPS and by map-matching, more accurate vehicle position data can be used.

The current vehicle position will be calculated by detecting the distance the vehicle moved from the previous calculation point and its direction.

Fig 2: Identifying Vehicle Position

Courtesy of NISSAN MOTOR CO., U.S.A.