Mapping and navigation technologies are evolving fast. We take a look at what’s coming next for the automotive industry, ahead of our panel discussion webinar with Automotive World.

Maps have been central to our ability to navigate the world for aeons. The need to find our way reliably has also driven technological innovation for centuries, from the magnetic compass to GPS.

Now, the combination of mapping and navigational technologies is entering an exciting new phase, as we entrust more wayfinding responsibility to ADAS systems and autonomous vehicles.

Two capabilities in particular will be critical: the ability for the vehicle to locate itself accurately on a real-time, high-definition map, and its ability to navigate safely and reliably from A to B.

These requirements are driving rapid technological evolution across the automotive ecosystem.
Our panel discussion will focus on the latest developments on Friday 20 September in a webinar hosted by Automotive World.

Our VP Business Development, Manuel Del Castillo, together with James Tidd, VP of Engineering at Swift Navigation, and Belabbas Boubeker, navigation expert at Bosch, will be discussing innovations including some of the following advancements:

High-definition (HD) maps and 3D mapping: Until now, HD maps were mostly used as navigational aids for humans—whether as in-vehicle displays or smartphone apps. Now, they’re becoming fundamental elements of autonomous navigation systems, enabling self-driving vehicles to match the 3D environment they sense around them to a map layer in the system. Mercedez-Benz, for example, has embedded HERE Technologies’ HD Live Map in its SAE Level 3 Drive Pilot system to enable the vehicle to “see around corners” and navigate accordingly.

GNSS accuracy enhancements: While HD maps are making hands-free and autonomous driving easier, they lack one crucial capability: absolute positioning. The ability for the vehicle to know where it is on the Earth’s surface is essential—to place itself accurately on the map at the start of a journey, and to keep other navigation sensors synced with a reliable, independent source of positioning data.

Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) like GPS are by far the most ubiquitous and cost-effective sources of absolute positioning. While GNSS signals can lose accuracy in built-up or wooded areas, software-based accuracy-enhancing technologies like our S-GNSS Auto® are fast providing a robust solution—paving the way for safe autonomous driving even in urban locations.

Precise positioning: Autonomous vehicles must be capable of accurate, centimetre-level positioning for lane-keeping and precision manoeuvring. HD maps are part of the solution, but a layered architecture with multiple fallback technologies will be needed for compliance with emerging and future safety regulations. Using ground-based transmitters or cellular networks to broadcast corrections it can make GNSS positions orders of magnitude more precise.

AI and machine learning: AI is transforming our lives daily, and many exciting applications are emerging in navigation and mapping. Sensor fusion algorithms already take feeds from sensors like cameras, LiDAR, GNSS and microelectronic mechanical sensors (MEMS) to synthesise an accurate position for the vehicle. Now, with the advent of real-time, crowdsourced map data, AI can do things like make routing decisions based on data about current road conditions—as demonstrated by TomTom’s new generative AI-powered in-vehicle conversational assistant, developed with Microsoft.

Real-time data sharing: The real breakthrough in HD mapping for navigation will be the ability for vehicles to source real-time updates to changes in the mapped environment. Platforms like Waze are showing the way, with real-time traffic data sourced from the Waze user base. But when vehicles themselves rely on a continuously-refreshed map, it will involve a phenomenal amount of data—imagine a continuously-updated Google Streetview, for everywhere in the world—and finding ways to share that data sustainably, cost-effectively and in real time will be one of the challenges.

Vehicle-to-everything (V2X): V2X technologies will likely have a key role to play in ensuring safety and enhancing the driver experience. One possible use case is localised real-time digital mapping, using mobile edge computing (MEC) data centres co-located with roadside infrastructure. Streamed video from vehicles and infrastructure in the area can be processed locally to deliver real-time map updates via 5G to other vehicles operating in the area, rather than hauling video all the way to a cloud data centre and back. With lower latency and lower power consumption, this may be a more reliable and sustainable way of providing vehicles with real-time map updates.

Listen to this discussion for the latest on automotive mapping and navigation

As ADAS and autonomous driving evolve, the automotive ecosystem will need to embrace new mapping and navigation technologies to create exceptional—and safe—experiences.

Join us at 2 pm UK on 20 September for a fascinating discussion about what’s ahead in these two critical areas.

Register to listen into this discussion brought to you by Automotive World, “The changing vehicle mapping and navigation landscape” and get involved by asking your question.

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