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      05-23-2014, 08:09 AM   #1
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Proactive Steptronic?

Hi, I read this article and they said that Proactive Steptronic will be in cars from this summer, is possible that older cars can be updated with this "software only" change I think? https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/globa...tem=node__4100
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      05-23-2014, 08:25 AM   #2
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Sounds interesting. I think Fifth Gear did a review of a new Rolls Royce (or maybe it was Bentley) recently. Anyway, it was well received by them. It anticipated grades and curves and downshifted accordingly. If it was a seamless integration I wouldn't mind having this feature. I'd be surprised if this was a software only upgrade. Might be some additional add ons to support this. Maybe they will bundle it like the MPPK and sell as an upgrade to those with compatible cars.

Here's some verbiage from the site:

"On vehicles equipped with a navigation system, the proactive drive system ensures that the moment to shift gears is precisely adapted to the prevailing driving situation even if the navigation system is not active. The Proactive Driving Assistant works in tandem with the navigation system and “sees” a bend or a roundabout ahead and takes into account turn-offs and motorway exits. If the vehicle is approaching a roundabout or a bend, the transmission automatically changes down to the most appropriate gear, making optimum use of the engine braking effect. Subsequently, the system again shifts to the optimal gear for accelerating out of the bend. Furthermore, unnecessary gearshifts and hunting between bends are avoided through intelligent interaction with the navigation system."
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      05-23-2014, 08:28 AM   #3
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Interesting but as we know as tires wear off the accuracy of the navigation is reduced not by much though. With these inherent inaccuracies this new system is likely to have its flaws
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      05-23-2014, 09:04 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 300hp View Post
Interesting but as we know as tires wear off the accuracy of the navigation is reduced not by much though.
Never heard of that before. What do tires have to do with nav? Just curious...
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      05-23-2014, 09:08 AM   #5
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I hope there's a way to disable. If new roads are built/modified and the map doesn't get updated, is it going to think you're driving on a road that's completely different?
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      05-23-2014, 09:10 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 300hp View Post
Interesting but as we know as tires wear off the accuracy of the navigation is reduced not by much though. With these inherent inaccuracies this new system is likely to have its flaws
It's not really clear to me how the tires might influence the accuracy of the navigation. Could you please explain?

In areas where there's no GPS reception (like tunnels or underground parking garages), I'd understand why since there it relies on internal sensors to approximate from last known GPS position...but otherwise?
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      05-23-2014, 09:18 AM   #7
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Good points but I have just observed that my navigation is always a couple of feet off as tires wear. This is something you can always check when you set your destination to "home". With time you will observe the navigation will not get you exactly to your home address but will be a few feet off. I have observed this since my first car that had navigation which I bought in 2006.
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      05-23-2014, 09:22 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 300hp
Good points but I have just observed that my navigation is always a couple of feet off as tires wear. This is something you can always check when you set your destination to "home". With time you will observe the navigation will not get you exactly to your home address but will be a few feet off. I have observed since since my first car that had navigation which I bought in 2006.
Your dead wrong. Tires have absolutely no effect on GPS accuracy. None.
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      05-23-2014, 09:27 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Austinformedude
Quote:
Originally Posted by 300hp
Good points but I have just observed that my navigation is always a couple of feet off as tires wear. This is something you can always check when you set your destination to "home". With time you will observe the navigation will not get you exactly to your home address but will be a few feet off. I have observed since since my first car that had navigation which I bought in 2006.
Your dead wrong. Tires have absolutely no effect on GPS accuracy. None.
Fair. Just stating what I have observed
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      05-23-2014, 09:29 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Austinformedude View Post
Your dead wrong. Tires have absolutely no effect on GPS accuracy. None.
Agreed. GPS doesn't care about the circumference of your tires. You could put 12" rims on there (remove your brakes first ;-) ) and it would still know exactly where you are.

Now maybe in the past he experienced a tire upgrade that had a direct impact on MPH and odometer readings which can certainly be impacted by going to a larger or smaller diameter tire.
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      05-23-2014, 09:41 AM   #11
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Before we go nuts over this here is some interesting reading. As long as the car is in a place where the GPS signal is clear then there are no issues with locating the car. However this is not always the case. I believe this is where tire wear among other things will impact your positioning by the navigation. As I said I have had the same home and eight cars with navigation and I have observed this on all of them. I am actually the boring type that does not swap out the OEM wheels that come with the car and I always buy OEM tires to replace the worn out ones.

http://books.google.com/books?id=U2J...%20gps&f=false
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      05-23-2014, 10:07 AM   #12
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An interesting observation. Time to have that sent off to the Mythbusters to see if it might be true. I have a feeling most GPS systems, when they can't get a good signal, 'estimate' their position based on speed along with internal map data and hence the error is introduced.

As for GPS, there are two types of signals. The one used in cars, GPS units, phones, etc is the Course Acquisition Code. A somewhat 'dumb downed' version of the other code, called the Precision Code. For example, mounting the GPS unit out of a smart bomb in your car, you'd likely be able to navigate to the middle of your living room. Not convinced? If he was still around you could ask Sadam Hussein. Lots of items were guided to many of Sadam's living rooms using the P code.

P codes are somewhat more complex than C/A codes. A C/A code is 128 bytes (not kilo or mega, just plain old bytes). A P code is 728 gigabytes. Actually, the 728 GB code is a small segment of the master P code, a 26 TB monster. A C/A code is great for finding Disneyland. A P code is great for finding the ventilation shaft of an underground bunker.

As for BMW's idea, I think it's great. What could possibly go wrong with yet another flawless auto technology that probably won't kill more than a dozen people?
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      05-23-2014, 10:24 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by menncars View Post
...As for BMW's idea, I think it's great. What could possibly go wrong with yet another flawless auto technology that probably won't kill more than a dozen people?
A bit over dramatic maybe?
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      05-23-2014, 10:29 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 300hp View Post
Before we go nuts over this here is some interesting reading...
Right, as I thought...
My problem was that, I was trying to picture places where GPS would be unavailable and all that came to mind (living in Geneva) were parkings and tunnels... There's however cities with skyscrapers that I didn't take into account (we don't get that many here)
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      05-23-2014, 10:35 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stormlv
Quote:
Originally Posted by 300hp View Post
Before we go nuts over this here is some interesting reading...
Right, as I thought...
My problem was that, I was trying to picture places where GPS would be unavailable and all that came to mind (living in Geneva) were parkings and tunnels... There's however cities with skyscrapers that I didn't take into account (we don't get that many here)
You forgot deserts

All that matters is we are on the same page, that's the problem with written intercontinental communication at times
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      05-23-2014, 11:59 AM   #16
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So if "tire wear" were to have an effect on a GPS unit's accuracy, how does one account for using a portable GPS in "walking mode"? Will it's accuracy depend on shoe size, sole thickness, stride differences, etc.? Since my Garmin units aren't connected to any of my car's instrumentation, there's no way that miniscule differences in tire size will affect its accuracy.

That said, why would the Ultimate Driving Machine need this GPS-adaptive technology? Isn't that what us drivers are for? Maybe it'd be good for those who view automobiles as "transportation appliances" and would rather let the car drive itself, but not for me.
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      05-25-2014, 04:06 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stormlv View Post
A bit over dramatic maybe?
Believe me when I say I think it ridiculous that car maker after car maker is dragged into court when the annual crop of new idiots pops up and dreams up ways to crash their vehicles in fantastic and innovative ways then looks to blame anyone but themselves. It really does drive up car prices. That being said, there is a pattern of all, and I mean all automakers doing some really reckless stuff they knew better not to do.

American car companies get the most press about fatal defects but that's only because Americans like to show off European and Asian makers are just as bad.
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