You know all about predictive texting when writing an SMS but how about predictive satellite navigation?
It's been dubbed Ilena (intelligent learning navigation) and BMW's research and technology types have converted a 3 Series into a prototype. It can predict where the driver will be heading and what route will be chosen even without the driver entering a destination.
The system is basically a self-teaching route predictor that not only reacts to the driver's commands but also tries to be proactive. It aims to increase convenience, performance, and fuel economy and falls within the BMW EfficientDynamics stable.
To get the navigation working proactively, it must first be taught by creating a profile for the driver that includes past journey history. The history will include not only destinations and short cuts but also information such as time of day and and how many people are in the car.
It will warn of traffic jams, select the most likely destination (as opposed to the most recent or one from the address book) and even cross-check the prediction against the personal calendar function in a driver's phone.
"If it's Monday morning, my car decides that my workplace will be my likeliest destination," said a BMW tester.
"If my child is also on board the system will plan for a detour past the school. Or, if it's Saturday morning, my personal route planner will decide I'm most likely to be heading to the sports centre."
According to BMW the navigation prototype has scored 70 percent with its forecasts. - Star Motoring