We couldn't see it with our eyes, because of the smoke. But we knew exactly where we could go. This anecdote illustrates how navigation devices, such as those installed on nearly all of Los Angeles' 440 heavy apparatuses, can help crews in the field. The units used in Los Angeles are about five years old, but new and more advanced models are hitting the U.S. market. Rental car companies, including Avis and Hertz, have installed navigation devices in cars based in several cities.
Olds plans to offer the option nationwide within the next two years.
Several companies are currently marketing devices, including Sony Corp. and Rockwell International Corp. Companies including Etak Inc. are making electronic maps, and many metropolitan areas and states are already available on compact disc. While guidance devices have hit the U.S. market relatively recently, they have been available in Japan for a number of years. Some models in that country not only help drivers navigate, but provide descriptions of local features such as golf courses. Guidance systems sold in the United States basically consist of a visual display unit near the driver's position. A screen projects the vehicle's position in relation to a selected destination over a digital map.