Control Engineering

Paul Grayson

NAV - What if...
May 19, 2008

Pioneer, AVIC-Z3, engineers view.

THE GAME
There is a race going on between us and our enemies to see who can adopt technology the quickest and take tactical advantage of it for the edge it gives one over the other.  You would think that as a nation we would be very good at that sort of thing, perhaps at one time we were.  In my quest to find off-the-shelf components that can be blended together to produce an autonomous US Army supply truck I have found that the AVIC-Z3 listed features represent a large number of the items on the list.  It also has features not previously suggested for a military system that could be very useful.  For instance the Z3's GEX-P10XMT XM NavTraffic Satellite Radio Tuner with NavTraffic™ powered by NAVTEQ Traffic allows the Pioneer Navigation Systems to understand traffic conditions and route the vehicle to its destination, avoiding traffic congestion. If there is a traffic jam on the route to the destination, the Navigation System will automatically be alerted, and the unit will find an alternate route.  This requires an XM radio subscription and XM NavTraffic™ service subscription. 

G2
In the case of Z3-like units proposed for use by the US armed forces, Army Intelligence could have direct impact on the trucks routing system by publishing the threat level of all road segments to the guidance systems over XM NavTraffic. People would not have to re-route the trucks, the trucks simply would figure this out on their own, given the current information of what lies ahead of them, and change route accordingly.  Other creative uses of the Z3's other features could be evolved.  Here at AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL MAGIC we have been working with the earlier Z2 model and are looking forward to seeing what we can do with the Z3 when we get our hands on a few of them.

CHANGES
The Z3 does more with 20 GB of program and data than the Z2 and does it with 60 GB of program and data.  This suggests to me that the program and data have become more compact.  The literature says the Z3 has a higher speed processor.  Whether or not we use a Z series NAV module as part of our AGV WENDY DARLING truck's guidance and control system, studying the Z series gives me an idea of what size box the final version of our AIM Truck AutoPilot running HorseSense Software will fit into. 


Pioneer,  AVIC-Z3, operators view.

DISPLAY FEATURES
Screen Size/Aspect Ratio 7.0 Inch / 16:9
Pixels 336,960 (1,440 x 234)
Touch Panel
Anti-Glare Screen Coating AG
Background Picture 15 Navi, 15 A/V
Import Custom BG Pictures JPEG (CD-R)
Dimmer Control Intelligent
Picture Adjustment Brightness, Contrast, Color, Hue, Dimmer Settings
5 Selectable Viewing Modes
Motorized Display Motorized Disc Access
Selectable Angle Setting 6 Settings
Automatic Display Positioning
Set Back Mode No (Not Required)
Half Close Setting No (Not Required)

NAVIGATION
Navigation Type Built-in 30GB HDD (Always On)
Map Data HDD
Coverage Area US, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii
Data Size 20GB
Point Addressing
Memory Navigation Mode Not Required
Home Area Map Memory Not Required
Learning Capability
Smart Routing Algorithm
3D Hybrid Sensor (Gyro & G-Force)
GPS Receiver and Antenna 8 Channel (Included)
Touch Screen Operation
Voice Instructions Playback Recorded Voice and TTS (Text to Speech)
Multi-Language Display Capability English, Spanish, French
Voice Control (Voice Recognition) Advanced (Included)
Points of Interest (POI) 12 Million
Brand Icon POI's Included
POI Database Categories 341
POI Categories by Brand Included
POI Shortcut Keys Yes
Detailed City Map 60 Cities
Highway Lane Information 50 Cities
3D Highway Exit Zoom View
XM NavTraffic Ready
Emergency Mode Display
1-Year Roadside Assistance Included
Display Mode - Map View Yes
Display Mode - Guide View Yes
Display Mode - Route View Yes
Display Mode - Driver's View Enhanced
Display Mode - Twin Map View Yes (2D/3D)
Display Mode - Rear View Yes
Vehicle Dynamics Display (VDD) Yes
Vehicle Dynamics Skins 3 (Original, Hologram, Classic)
VDD Gauge Selections 7 (Voltage, Clock, Direction, Slope, Acceleration, Side Acceleration, Angular Velocity)
HDD MUSIC LIBRARY
HDD Music Library Size 10GB
Gracenote CDDB Database Included
CDDB Information Title/Artist/Genre (Album &Track)
CDDB Phoneme Data Included
CDDB Updating CD-ROM
Playlist Album, Artist, Genre, MyMix
Random Playlist/All
Repeat Playlist/Track
Scan Yes
Recording Speed 4x (Auto/Single/Manual)
Records From Audio CD only
Playback While Recording Yes

DVD/CD PLAYER
Drives Included 1 (DVD/CD)
DVD-Video Playback
DVD-R/RW (Video Format) Playback DVD/DVD-R/-RW
CD-R/RW Playback CD/CD-R/-RW
MP3 Playback with ID3 Tag CD
CD Text

SUPERTUNER (AM/FM RADIO)
Supertuner Supertuner III
24-Station/6-Button (18FM/6AM) Presets
BSM (Best Stations Memory)
Local Station Setting Selectable (4-Step)

DIGITAL RADIO CAPABILITY
XM Radio Ready Enhanced Graphical (GEX-P10XMT or GEX-P920XM Required)
Sirius Radio Ready Yes (CD-SB10 Required)

BLUETOOTH WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY
Bluetooth Capable Optional ND-BT1
Hands-Free Profile (HFP) (w/ND-BT1)
Audio Streaming Profile (A2DP) Not Available
Audio Control Profile (AVRCP) Not Available

IPOD CONTROL CAPABILITY
iPod Control Capability Adapter (CD-IB100II Required)
iPod Video Compatible Not Available

RECEIVER FEATURES 
IP-Bus System Control
Multi-CD Control
DVD Control
Auxiliary Input CD-RB10 or CD-RB20 required
External Unit Control 2
TV Tuner Ready Yes
AV-Bus Input
Composite A/V Input 1 (AV1)
Back-Up Camera Input
Rear-View Camera Mode
Composite A/V Output Video Output
Dual Zone Audio/Video Tri-Zone (Front/Rear/Navi)
Independent Rear A/V Source Control DVD-V

AUDIO FEATURES
Built-in Speaker Power MOSFET 50W x 4
Continuous Power Output 22W x 4
Equalizer EEQ (3-Band Parametric)
SFEQ (Sound Focus EQ)
Loudness 3 Mode
Source Level Adjuster (SLA)
High-Pass Crossover (HPF) 50/80/125Hz, -12dB/Oct.
Subwoofer Crossover (LPF) 50/80/125Hz, -12dB/Oct.
RCA Preouts 3 pair (Front, Rear, Sub/Non-Fading)
Preout Voltage 2.2V, 1k Ohm

MULTI-CHANNEL AUDIO
Multi-Channel Processor Optional DEQ-P8000
Multi-Channel Controller Required? AXM-P8000 Required

GENERAL
Remote Control Optional (CD-SR1)
Wired Remote Input
Dimensions (Main Chassis) 2DIN (7 x 4)
Dimensions (Hideaway Unit) None
Optional Off-Set Installation Kit Not required
Warranty 1 Year 

COMMENTS
As I reading through these spec's they brings a flood of ideas and adaptations to mind.  Progress over the past seven and a half years that this project has been around has resulted in some amazing changes.  The Z3 listens to what you say, it talks more clearly than earlier models. Who would have thought at the start of this project when people were talking about needing six terrabites of information storage that an entire NAV module would fit in a double DIN dashboard slot or that the GPS antenna would be the thickness and diameter of a half dollar coin?  Here at AIM we get to work with some amazing stuff. 

GO ROBOTS !

Posted by Paul Grayson on May 19, 2008 | Comments (0)