Getting lost while driving a car is now becoming an impossibility with another innovation on navigation systems from GM. General Motors Corp is set to announce an updated version of its OnStar safety and navigation system this week at the 2006 Chicago Auto Show. The new version will allow users to get real-time directions while they are driving. Called Turn-by-Turn Navigation, the system will appear first on the new Buick Lucerne and Cadillac DTS but will gradually be introduced in other GM cars.

The new Turn-by-Turn Navigation system is a fully-integrated GPS navigation system that allows the user to request complete step-by-step directions to any destination from the live Advisor at a simple press of a button. The system adds a new measure of safety since drivers can keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road as the step-by-step directions are automatically played through the vehicle’s audio system. The system will alert the driver in case he leaves the route or misses a turn; it will then recalculate new directions based on the new location. Drivers can tape the directions and play them back when needed.

OnStar is a safety and security system exclusively for GM vehicles that feature 24 hours access to a live specially trained Advisor to help users with various safety and security issues such as air bag deployment. It also provides a connection to emergency assistance. Access to OnStar hands-free calling is also provided. Some of OnStar’s current features include tracking a stolen car, unlocking a car whenever the keys are lost or left inside and summoning emergency services in case of an accident. Currently, four million vehicles from GM are equipped with OnStar. The system will be available in 50 vehicles from GM this 2006.

The updated version is the seventh generation of the hardware in ten years. The OnStar Turn-by-Turn navigation system will be available in approximately 1 million GM cars and trucks by 2007. It will be available at a lower cost than other competitive navigation systems.

Volkswagen of America Inc. is collaborating with leading search engine Google Inc. to develop a prototype vehicle navigation system that will incorporate satellite mapping software from Google and feature a realistic, three-dimensional display. Together with NVIDIA, the graphics chipmaker, VW and Google will work on an in-car navigation map system that will incorporate Google Earth, the search engine’s popular electronic world map in 3D.

The navigation system was presented at the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. In the future, it will help drivers and passengers know their location in relation to the surrounding topography which will be rendered realistically and accurately in terms of depth and accurate size relationships between roads, buildings, and other landmarks.

The prototype vehicle navigation system will also feature vehicle-centric touch screen interface to Google Earth. It will take advantage of the rapid development and increasing accuracy of global positioning systems (GPS) dead-reckoning and laser-radar imaging. Google Earth features a high quality 3D representation of the earth with a database of various information such as locations of restaurants, gas stations, landmarks and other points of interest that can be superimposed on the three dimensional map.

Volkswagen is working on the project at its Electronics and Research Laboratory in Palo Alto, California. The automaker is also currently developing on other applications including an automatic personalized content updates for vehicle navigation systems. These advancements will definitely modernize the driving experience in the near future. It seems getting lost will simply become obsolete.