We have a client who wishes us to provide an automatic route planner capability with GPSS. i.e. to calculate the optimum route from the GPS-based car position to the destination the driver has selected. This is a similar function to that provided within desktop products like Microsoft Autoroute Express.
It is the policy of Sunninghill Systems not to compete with desktop products like these, but rather to restrict GPSS to the prime function of providing information to the driver and his passengers. The client wishes to have the product quickly, and therefore we wish to procure an off-the-shelf product.
The product DOES NOT NEED TO BE PROVIDED WITH DATA. Our client will provide the required link and node map data to meet the specification provided by you. This could be in your online format, or simply in a format convenient for you to receive.
The software will be used in a product to be produced and sold in South East Asia. The Client and I will be happy to discuss, with the successful tenderer, use of the same product in other in-car markets throughout the World - dependant upon the availability of suitable mapping.
GPSS will pass the GPS location and the destination location to the Route Planner. The Route Planner will calculate then pass back the optimum route as a number of waypoint locations. e.g. GPSS.ROO already within GPSS. It will use link and note data supplied by the Client via ourselves. GPSS will use this data to provide turn-by-turn guidance as voice commands to the car occupants.
The Automatic Route Planner Software (ARPS) should be capable of operating anywhere in the world - when supplied with the appropriate data. Locations will be in WGS84 lat/lon. Information provided in the map data, to your specified format, will include node locations (e.g. road junctions), link connections (sections of road between nodes), and information required for the calculation such as link length (e.g. metres), category (e.g. dual carriageway, small urban street, etc) and other information that might influence the optimisation algorithm (e.g. delays or tolls).
The interface between the ARPS and GPSS is to be agreed between us, and must support the basic function above plus information from GPSS such as that based on live traffic data, and that passed back to GPSS to support the instructions given to the driver (e.g. take the third exit off the roundabout signed to the railway station). This should be coded to simplify the ARPS and GPSS which will translate into the appropriate human language.
The ARPS does not require a human interface - since this will be provided by GPSS. However, if the product can also be made available for use 'on the desk' before the journey, this will be considered as an additional benefit. This type of solution will also be considered - in which the car location is manually entered as the start point - as a temporary solution. i.e. export of the route in an agreed format from an existing product.
If you would like to discuss this further, please contact me by whichever
is the most convenient to you : email, 'phone or fax on 0044 (0) 1344 20775
or by writing to :
Sunninghill Systems, 22 Armitage Court, Sunninghill, Berks SL5 9TA, UK
e-mail to Robin Lovelock, Sunninghill Systems on gpss@compuserve.com