TomTom today announced it was supplying mapping technology and connected services for Nissan Motor’s redesigned Qashqai in Europe.
TomTom’s maps will support the upgraded ProPILOT with Navi-link driver assistance, as well as the infotainment system’s built-in navigation.
The next generation of ProPILOT automates vehicle steering, acceleration and braking within a single lane on highways, helping drivers maintain a safe distance to the car in front. The updated system can adapt the car’s speed according to additional external circumstances. When the car crosses to a lower speed limit zone on the highway, the Qashqai uses its sensors to read road signs and draws information from TomTom’s advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) map to slow itself to the appropriate speed. The new ProPILOT with Navi-link also uses the enriched map data to adjust the speed for approaching curves or exit ramps that have a tighter radius.
“Sensors can only see what is visible. If a sign is missing, a truck is in the way, the weather is bad, or if there is a sharp bend in the road over the next hill, sensors alone are not sufficient to provide adequate feedback to the vehicle,” said Antoine Saucier, managing director, TomTom Automotive. “The ADAS Map supports more comfortable, efficient and safer driving, by providing high quality information on gradient, lanes, curvature and speed limits to advanced systems.”
TomTom will provide the infotainment system with over-the-air map update technology, automatically updating relevant parts of the map. This ensures that the map is always up to date, with no interaction required from the driver. It detects when updates are available, and downloads and installs them in the background, via various methods such as USB or Wi-Fi hotspot.
Qashqai drivers will also use TomTom maps for navigation as well as its array of connected services. The NissanConnect display screen, the new high-definition, fully electronic 12.3 inch TFT multi-information screen and the new 10.8-inch head-up display will give drivers access to real-time traffic information, speed camera alerts, fuel prices, weather information and online search.