In Japan, autonomous navigation systems are coming into wide use. However, UTMS (Universal Traffic Management System) research and development activities for communication between the infrastructure and the automobiles is being advanced by UTMS Japan (Universal Traffic Management Society of Japan) under the guidance of the National Police Agency. These activities are very much anticipated by the public.
Toyota Motor Corporation and Sumitomo Electric Industries, LTD. approve of the activities and have jointly developed a simple in-vehicle navigation display system. The effectiveness of this system was demonstrated at the UTMS demonstration and test drive in cooperation with the Kanagawa Prefectural Police Headquarters on July 19, 1994 in Yokohama.
The aim of this system is to realize, at low cost, a system for providing traffic information that drivers can easily read and understand while driving. This system has no sophisticated current position detection mechanism, such as a map database or GPS. It is based on infrastructure functions. Principal abilities of the system include dynamic route guidance to destination and presentation of traffic information.
With appropriate timing, the system presents simple and easy-to-see turn-by-turn indications, intersection information (shape, name, lane control information, and distance to the intersection), together with voice and graphic intersection guidance. The objective is to ease the loads associated with driving. This report presents the structure and functions of the system and the demonstration.