• Pioneer Shows Augmented Reality-Powered Car Navigation System

    Serkan Toto

    Dr. Serkan Toto is an independent consultant and advisor focusing on Japan’s web, mobile and social gaming industries. Based in Tokyo, he works together with financial institutions and startups worldwide. Serkan has been the Japan contributor for TechCrunch.com since 2008. He is sept-lingual, holds an MBA and is a PhD in economics. → Learn More

    Monday, May 9th, 2011

    Pioneer in Japan announced [JP] a number of new car navigation systems today, but the AVIC-VH09CS took the cake: it’s what the company calls the first in-dash car navigation system ever to make use of Augmented Reality. And by the looks of it, the device produces some pretty cool results.

    Technically, the system consists of:

    • 7-inch LCD
    • DVD/CD player
    • USB/SD card slot
    • 5.1ch  center speaker
    • Bluetooth
    • AR scouter mode

    Obviously, the so-called AR scouter mode is the most interesting feature: the system “augments reality” by identifying cars, traffic lights, streets and other objects in the real world to help guide you through traffic (the camera has to be installed on the windshield and connects to the AVIC-VH09CS wirelessly).

    For example, in the picture below, the system superimposes a Lawson convenience store (on the left, in blue) with a “3DCG” to make it easier to spot.

    On this picture, you can see the device highlighting the lanes in front of you:

    The car in front of you gets “augmented”:

    Pioneer plans to start selling the AR navigation system in Japan by the end of this month (price: $3,700).

    Via AV Watch [JP]