"PATHFINDER" - A PRACTICAL AVL AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR FLEET MANAGEMENT OR THE MOTORING PUBLIC. NAV 85 - LAND NAVIGATION AND LOCATION FOR MOBILE APPLICATIONS - PAPERS PRESENTED AT THE 1985 CONFERENCE OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF NAVIGATION, YORK, 9-11 SEPTEMBER 1985

The pathfinder automatic vehicle location system developed by x-y electronics is described. The emphasis has been on low cost, reliability, unobtrusiveness and simplicity. Details are given of the sensors, location beacons and vehicle equipment. The equipment is intrinsically reliable as it avoids the use of moving or rotating machinery and uses only static memories which are seen to be important in the vibrating environment of the car. A small inexpensive 8-digit display is fitted on the top of the instrument panel where it gives the driver location and guidance information with little interference to driving. The beacon infrastructure which uses tried technology is also relatively inexpensive at 150 pounds for a self-powered beacon and less than 100 pounds for a mains operated one. With an overall UK requirement of 3000 beacons (including 700 in greater London) the total cost would be half a million pounds. Examples are given of the lcd which gives information in the form of ordnance survey co-ordinates down to a resolution of 10 metres. The author suggests that os co-ordinates are not sufficiently used in this country and puts forward proposals for a new type of atlas based on northings and eastings. (TRRL)

• Corporate Authors:

  Royal Institute of Navigation

  1 Kensington Gore
  London,   England 
• Authors:
  • Muraszko, J T
  • Braby, A
• Publication Date: 1985

Media Info

• Pagination: 5 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alignment; Automatic vehicle location; Conferences; Design; Driver information systems; Errors
• Uncontrolled Terms: Selection
• ITRD Terms: 2894: Alignment; 3882: Automatic; 8525: Conference; 9011: Design (overall design); 6440: Error; 9061: Location; 9072: Selection; 1255: Vehicle
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Planning and Forecasting;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00491620
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 31 1990 12:00AM