Intelligent Systems Report € November € 1996 € Volume 13 € No. 11

Speech recognition helps drivers find their way

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By David Blanchard
Editor

Now that speech recognition systems have become widely accepted in dictation and telephony applications, the envelope is about to be pushed even further &emdash; to vehicle navigation. Audio Navigation Systems (ANS) (Van Nuys, Calif.), a developer of audio-based vehicle navigation systems, has licensed speech recognition technology from Voice Control Systems (VCS) (Dallas, Tex.; www.voicecontrol. com), for use in a next-generation interactive audio navigation and communications system application for automobiles.

The current version of the audio navigation system is manufactured by one of ANS's licensees, Amerigon (Monrovia, Calif.), and is marketed by four car stereo companies &emdash; Clarion, Alpine, Kenwood, and Eclipse/Fujitsu Ten. The system is comprised of a hardware unit, which is actually a small computer, and software embedded on a music-type CD. The audio navigation system provides the driver with a way to receive directions to any destination without requiring the driver to take his or her eyes off the road.

To begin the audio navigation process, the driver says "Navigator" to activate the system. The driver then spells the starting and ending locations by street addresses or cross-streets, or even by landmarks such as an airport, restaurant or hotel. The audio navigator then provides step-by-step verbal instructions on how to reach the destination using recorded words spoken by a human voice (not computer-generated sounds) played over the vehicle's stereo system.

VCS's speech recognition technologies have been featured in several concept cars developed by major automobile manufacturers over the past decade to control non-critical functions such as windshield wipers, radio/CD/tape control and climate settings. The company's speech recognition has also been incorporated in cellular phones, which are being sold as standard or optional features in several luxury automobiles through a variety of distributors and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), including Cadillac through Hughes Network Systems, and Mercedes-Benz through Oki Telecom.

ANS expects to have its new speech recognition audio navigation system on the market next year.