Photo Finish For Sat-nav

Satellite navigation will be missing one crucial element in the future - satellites. The next big thing is cars that can recognise their surroundings. All they need is a digital camera and an ultra-big memory chip. The camera takes a snap of the road the vehicle is on, then an on-board computer quickly compares the scenery with millions of pictures of the UK road network stored in its databanks. When it finds a match, it tells the driver exactly where he is.

Auto Express Car Reviews

13th May 2004

The system, invented by scientists at Cambridge University, is better than sat-nav in urban areas. That's because it doesn't need a clear view of the skies to see the GPS satellites that orbit the Earth. Likewise, it can also work in tunnels and under bridges, one of current sat-nav's biggest failings. But scientists admit they've yet to crack the problem of getting good snaps of the surroundings when there's thick fog. Ironically that's when motorists need most help.