2009Research papers

Summary

Many cars now have on-board cameras, and many kinds of driver support systems that use image recognition are being developed. We developed a car navigation system with image recognition that enhances drivers' safety, convenience, and entertainment.

Summary

The Author proposed a method for fuel efficient driving, to make clear the relationship between the distance between vehicles and fuel efficiency. In many cases, vehicles change their acceleration primarily in response to changes in the distance to the vehicle in front. Distance to the vehicle in front. is required to maintain the momentum achieved by coasting without the accelerator and accelerating again when clear of an obstacle. In the field of traffic flow analysis, the optimal velocity model is one of the car-following models. By studying this model we could evaluate the driving behavior and economy driving advice. In the test, two types of driving conditions, normal drive and eco-drive, were instructed to driver and the optimal velocity speed threshold for distance between vehicles was calculated. As a result of an experiment, normal driving was detected 7 percent of the time, and eco-driving detected 72 percent of the time.

Summary

We are working to develop a safe and comfortable driving system, that consists of drivers' condition sensing and feedback system for maintaining alertness and preventing drowsiness, etc.
This study reports on the effects of Aroma for drivers in a moving vehicle. We developed an aroma diffuser and researched psychological changes and measured heart rate and respiration frequency. In addition, we examined drivers' response time of sensing aroma, and the length of time which subjects were able to keep sensing.

Summary

We developed a Japanese speech recognition technology using language model for car navigation systems, anticipated to realize an intelligible speech recognition interface for unaccustomed users and to cope with versatile speech styles.
Various text data related to the operations of the car navigation system was collected uniquely by the team, as well as the creation of an appropriate language model, leading to progress in the recognition processing efficiency aimed at car navigation systems.
Experimental results show that the key-words recognition performance has improved on speech including redundant utterances.

Summary

Developing and selling Map Database and Software for Navigation systems as one of the important key businesses; "Increment P Corporation (Headquarters, Meguro-ku Tokyo)" has released navigation software named "MapFan Navii" working on the UMPC (Ultra-mobile PC) "D4" in cooperation with "Willcom Incorporated" who is one of the large-scale mobile network service providers in Japan. The system has been on sale in the domestic market since November 2008. It is needless to say that "MapFan Navii" has all the necessary functions required for navigation route guidance. Moreover, it provides miscellaneous real-time data contents to the customers such as VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System) Information, Recent Petrol Prices and Congestion Rate in Car Parks via our data servers with packet communication handled by the provider. KUCHIKOMI-JOHO (word of mouth; gratification score and opinion posted by customer who experienced the service) is another unique POI (Points of Interest) data which invites customers to visit and enjoy featured locations.

Summary

We have developed an automatic inspection system for operational sound of In-car 6-CD Changer mechanism.
In order to make it possible to replace the human inspector, the requirements for the system are as follows: standard of quality judgments should correspond well to expert human ears and feeling, the system must never miss defective units and should be less frequent on judging a good unit as defective.
We have continuously run data collection in a production line environment and improved the system software.
As a result, we have confirmed the excellent discrimination performance and validity of the system.

Summary

Kawagoe Plant as a member of the Pioneer group was established to develop and produce car audio as its specialty in 1970.
Now, it is the center plant of the car electronics business, has responsibility for all activities within the Mobile Entertainment Business Group from Research and Development through to Design, Production and Quality Assurance.
We set out to create value for customers with our vision, "From Pioneer, First in the World".
Examples of these "value-creating" achievements for consumers include a number of world-firsts: the "component car stereo" offering high-fidelity sound reproduction even under severe in-car surroundings; the first "car CD player"; the industry's first commercial use GPS(Global Position System) "CD-based car navigation; realizing highly accurate positioning, "DVD-based car navigation system"; integrating audio, video, information and communication, "HDD-based car navigation system"; and more recently, the new form of car navigation system with the "Smart Loop " function which allows users to generate the most suitable route based on constantly changing traffic congestion information regularly delivered over a mobile phone network.