ST, Navteq to create driver assistance module

Projected to be housed in a small, low cost module, the Map and Positioning Engine (MPE) is designed to enhance driver safety and convenience in all vehicles, even those without a driver navigation system. The key elements of the MPE are ST’s GPS technology and Navteq’s MPE map containing ADAS road geometry, topology, and additional attributes, such as number of lanes or speed limits. Vehicle position is matched to upcoming road segments in the map and Navteq’s patented Electronic Horizon technology interprets attributes on the road ahead to deliver predictive road information. According to the partners, the design can be implemented in a module the size of a credit card that would operate on the vehicle’s CAN (Controller Area Network) bus or embedded in another sensor or electronic control unit in the car. Additional enhancements are said to include adaptive headlight control and optimised slope driving. When the vehicle is approaching a curve, the headlights can be turned exactly into the direction the vehicle will go, even before the curve is reached. Slope information can be coupled with the vehicle’s powertrain to recognise a particular hill and help the driver choose the most efficient acceleration or gear shift for fuel economy and smooth driving.