Navigation Mode, Function

Block diagram, COMAND navigation system, illustrated with the following equipment:

- Sound system (code 810)

NOTE: The marked components are components which are used primarily in the navigation mode.

The location of the vehicle and the direction and distance to the destination (following destination entry) is determined with the aid of the COMAND navigation system. Then the required measures are started to reach the destination (guidance). The navigation system can be activated by pressing the button "NAV" on the control panel.
A navigation processor (A40/3n2) with CD-ROM drive is integrated into the COMAND operating, display and control module (A40/3) for the digital map data.

NOTE: The navigation CD-ROM drive is not capable of playing audio CD's.

Entry of destination
The destination can be entered in the menu on the control panel and is processed by the navigation processor (A40/3n2). Only destinations available on the CD-ROM can be entered. COMAND offers the following possibilities for entering the destination:
- Direct entry or the map displayed
- Calling a destination stored in the system
- Free entry of destination by name (if destination is stored). The entry can be made with menu guidance on the display of the COMAND operating, display and control module (A40/3).

Location determination
COMAND calculates continuously the location of the vehicle with the aid of the following processes:
- GPS location finding
- Basic location finding (dead reckoning)
- Map-supported location finding (map matching)

The navigation processor (A40/3n2) calculates the most probable position by permanently comparing the position finding results from these three procedures.

Route calculation
The route is calculated by the navigation processor when the destination is entered or automatically when the driver deviates from the calculated route.

If the vehicle is also equipped with dynamic guidance (code 815) the current traffic situation (construction sites, traffic jams, etc.) automatically influences the route calculation. (For (USA) still in preparation (status 11.98).

The calculated route is stored in the navigation processor.

Guidance
After the navigation processor has calculated the route, the guidance feature is started.

Three types of representation can be selected for graphic guidance:
- Symbolic representation (route guide symbols)
- Map display
- Mixture of map display and symbolic representation

It is possible to switch over between the three types of representation as desired. The guidance feature is supported significantly in all cases by the voice prompt from the vehicle loudspeakers.