For the business and trade press
Compact and powerful: The VDO Map 7 V sea-chart plotter further extends the company’s range of maritime navigation systems
Frankfurt, January 14, 2005
Modern data bus systems with the SAE J 1939 CAN data protocol are being increasingly used for boat engines. VDO is reacting to this growing number of electronically controlled engines in sport and leisure boats and is extending the product range to include the new VDO Ocean Link range of instruments. A master instrument with analogue and digital multifunctional display accesses the CAN bus of the engine control unit and presents the information on a large LC display. If required, it then distributes the data to as many as 20 more analogue instruments. VDO has realised an intelligent software concept that renders any programming superfluous and that, for the first time, enables installation in accordance with the plug & play principle.
The plotter has a 5.6” colour TFT liquid-crystal display that has been rotated to vertical mode for greater clarity, and can be viewed easily even in direct sunlight. This has enabled the device’s designers to reduce the size of the casing significantly in comparison with the Map 7 W, with which it shares its technical systems. Nevertheless, the plotter has its own integrated GPS antenna, and can therefore be installed easily on board, without the need for additional cabling. A practical quick-release holder means that installing and transporting the unit is simplicity itself. Just insert the plotter into the holder when ready for use, and remove it once safely moored – an effective prevention against theft. The plotter also has a removable front cover, which keeps the map slot for C-Map sea chart modules watertight.
The core of the navigation system is supported by a new RISC processor, which displays maps quickly and indicates cursor movement smoothly. In addition, the device has a 12-channel WAAS receiver for even more precise positioning, and a larger ROM storage area into which sea charts for the basic navigation functions have been preloaded in the factory. The Map 7 V also comes ready to connect to a Fishfinder box. Another innovation is the special emergency button located directly on the plotter front panel, supporting a “man overboard” function. It marks the position of the accident on the sea chart, and recalculates the course back to the victim within a few fractions of a second.
The Map 7 V is the first plotter from VDO to work with the new Max C-Map NT type maps. These sea charts can be viewed in a 3D perspective, and now show the latest flow data dynamically on the charts. Views of a large selection of the comprehensive map functions can now also be customized. In addition, lighthouses and light-buoys marked on the maps are “active” – the maps reflect their real-time activity. Photographs are also available for many harbours.
As with all of VDO’s sea-chart plotters, the Map 7 V is future-proof and can be extended as necessary. An integrated USB connection will allow users to upload software updates at any time. An additional interface allows a mobile telephone to be connected to the plotter using an optional IRDA module, so that constantly updated weather data can also be integrated into the navigation system.
Siemens VDO Automotive is one of the world's leading suppliers of electronics, electrics and mechatronics to the automotive industry. In the 2003 business year (30.9.), Siemens VDO Automotive generated sales of EUR 8.4 billion with 43,900 employees. The service and trading activities, the special original equipment manufacturing as well as all content software business for navigation systems are bundled within the Service & Special Solutions business unit. With the VDO, VDO Dayton and Siemens VDO product brands, the company’s portfolio ranges from car navigation, car multimedia and sophisticated car audio systems, telematics solutions for vehicle fleets to products for OEM with low volumes or special requirements, vehicle spares and spare part service for end of production vehicles. Service & Special Solutions is one of the leading service and trading companies in the automotive market. With 2.600 employees the business unit runs separate production and development locations and is present in 80 countries and all relevant distribution channels.
Reference Number: SV200308.003 en
