Honda today announced that the Honda Electro Gyrocator, commercialized in 1981 as the world’s first map-based automotive navigation system, has been honored as an IEEE Milestone. The Honda Electro Gyrocator, commercialized in 1981, was the world’s first map-based automotive navigation system.
Honda adopted a direction sensor which was developed as a result of the world’s first practical application of gas-rate gyro sensor for automobiles. The gas-rate gyro sensor detects the direction the vehicle is moving. The combination of this direction sensor, driving distance sensor, microcomputer and other technologies enabled it to detect direction and the distance of the movement, which were used to calculate the current position of the vehicle.
By indicating the current location, direction and driving trajectory of the vehicle on a cathode-ray tube (CRT) display where the user placed the map film, it was made easier for the driver to select which path to take. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, is the world’s largest non-profit organization of technical professionals in the areas of electrical, electronics, information and communications. With over 420,000 members in more than 190 countries, IEEE is the trusted voice on a wide variety of areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power and consumer electronics.
