Patent Publication Number: US-2023138909-A1

Title: Creating offroad maps with vehicle data

Description:
INTRODUCTION 
     Detailed databases exist that plot the details of most roadways. Thus, when vehicles are operated on roads, navigation systems may be use the databases to accurately identify a position of the vehicle relative to the current route, other roads, and other landmarks or points of potential interest. By contrast, when a vehicle travels an unmapped route, such as when the vehicle engages in offroad travel, the databases of existing roadways may provide little or no information about the terrain being traveled. Thus, an operator of a vehicle may have little or no information about offroad terrain before embarking on the offroad terrain or while the vehicle is travelling that terrain. 
     The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
     SUMMARY 
     Disclosed embodiments include systems, vehicles, and computer-implemented methods for logging positional coordinates and other data for an unmapped route. 
     In an illustrative embodiment, a system includes a computing device including: a positioning system configured to determine positional coordinates of the positioning system; a processor; and computer-readable media configured to store computer-executable instructions configured to cause the processor to: responsive to determining that the positional coordinates indicate that the positioning system is operating on an unmapped route that is not included in existing map data accessible by the processor, log the positional coordinates for each of a plurality of points along the unmapped route in a new map data set; log additional data for at least a portion of the unmapped route in the new map data set; and communicate the new map data set to a remote data store from which another user can access the new map data. 
     In another illustrative embodiment, a vehicle includes a vehicle body; a drive system; and a computing device including: a positioning system configured to determine positional coordinates of the positioning system; a processor; and computer-readable media configured to store computer-executable instructions configured to cause the processor to: responsive to determining that the positional coordinates indicate that the positioning system is operating on an unmapped route that is not included in existing map data accessible by the processor, log the positional coordinates for each of a plurality of points along the unmapped route in a new map data set; log additional data for at least a portion of the unmapped route in the new map data set; and communicate the new map data set to a remote data store from which another user can access the new map data. 
     In another illustrative embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes: determining when a computing device travels an unmapped route that is not included in existing map data; and in response to determining that the computing device travels the unmapped route: logging positional coordinates for each of a plurality of points along the unmapped route in a new map data set; and logging additional data for at least a portion of the unmapped route in the new map data set; and communicating the new map data set to a remote data store from which another user can access the new map data. 
     Further features, advantages, and areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It will be appreciated that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, with emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the disclosed embodiments. In the drawings: 
         FIG.  1    is a block diagram of a system for logging positional coordinates and additional data for an unmapped route; 
         FIGS.  2 - 4    are block diagrams of attributes of the system of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIGS.  5 - 7    are block diagrams of an illustrative system and illustrative screen displays for logging positional coordinates and additional data in a new map data set; 
         FIG.  8    is a schematic diagram of a scoring system for assigning a score to a route described in a new map data set; 
         FIG.  9    is a block diagram of users accessing new map data sets over a network; 
         FIG.  10    is a block diagram of an illustrative system and an illustrative screen display for following a route described by a new map data set; 
         FIG.  11    is a block diagram in partial schematic form of an illustrative vehicle that includes the system of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIGS.  12  and  13    are block diagrams in partial schematic form of an electrically-powered vehicle and an internal combustion engine-powered vehicle, respectively, that may be equipped with the system of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  14    is a perspective view of a cabin of a vehicle with access to the system of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  15    is a block diagram of an illustrative computing system for performing functions of the system of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  16    is a block diagram of one or more illustrative systems of  FIG.  1    communicating with one or more remote computing systems; and 
         FIG.  17    is a flow chart of an illustrative method for logging positional coordinates and additional data for an unmapped route. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. 
     By way of a non-limiting introduction and overview, various disclosed embodiments include systems, vehicles, and computer-implemented methods for logging positional coordinates and other data for an unmapped route. In various embodiments, an illustrative system includes a computing device including: a positioning system configured to determine positional coordinates of the positioning system; a processor; and computer-readable media configured to store computer-executable instructions configured to cause the processor to: responsive to determining that the positional coordinates indicate that the positioning system is operating on an unmapped route that is not included in existing map data accessible by the processor, log the positional coordinates for each of a plurality of points along the unmapped route in a new map data set; log additional data for at least a portion of the unmapped route in the new map data set; and communicate the new map data set to a remote data store from which another user can access the new map data. In other words, using the positioning system and other data capture devices associated with the positioning system, the positioning system may map offroad travel of the positioning system by logging positional coordinates and other information. This information can be subsequently accessed to present a map of a route for subsequent offroad travel. The positional coordinates may be used to plot the route while the additional data provides details about the nature of the route, the difficulty of the terrain, or other information that may be used in considering or traveling the route. 
     Now that a general overview has been given, details of various embodiments will be explained by way of non-limiting examples given by way of illustration only and not of limitation. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , a system  100  includes a computing device  110  that may be associated with a vehicle, as further described below, and used for capturing data to create a new map data set for a route traveled that is not included in existing map data. The computing device  110  includes a processor  112  that is operated according to computer-executable instructions  120  stored in computer-readable media, such as nontransitory, nonvolatile solid-state or disc-based storage. The computing device  110  includes a positioning system  116 , such as a Global Positioning System (GPS) or similar system, as described further below with reference to  FIG.  3   . In various embodiments, the positioning system  116  may actually be incorporated in a single computing device with the processor  112  and other devices herein described. Alternatively, the positioning system  116  may be a separate device that communicates with the processor  112 . In either embodiments, the positioning system  116  is in communication with the processor of the computing device  110  as described below. 
     In various embodiments, the positioning system  116  is configured to access existing map data  122  that may be used to help the positioning system  116  to provide navigational assistance on known routes by correlating the positional coordinates with the existing map data  122 . Using the positional coordinates, the positioning system  116  is able to identify its location where in the existing map data  122  for purposes of identifying where the positioning system  116  is located relative to known routes and/or identifiable destinations. Using this information, routes to a desired destination, anticipated travel times, turn-by-turn directions, and other information may be generated, as is familiar to users of navigation systems provided by GPS devices, smartphones, vehicle navigation systems, and similar systems. 
     In various embodiments, the existing map data  122  also may be used by the positioning system  116  to identify when the positioning system  116  is traveling a route that is not included in the existing map data  122 . In various embodiments, as further described below, the computing device  110  may use the positioning system  116  to collect positional coordinates for a route in a store of new map data  124 . The new map data  124  may store one or more new map data sets  130  for one or more routes not included in the existing map data  122 . The one or more new map data sets  130  may be subsequently accessed to enable a user (not shown in  FIG.  1   ) to consider traveling and/or to navigate the one or more routes described in the new map data sets  130 . Like the computer-executable instructions  124 , the existing map data  122  and the new map data  124  may be maintained in computer-readable media, such as nontransitory, nonvolatile solid-state or disc-based storage. As described further below, the existing map data  122  and the new map data  124  may be maintained in local storage within the computing device  110  and/or in a remote storage device (not shown in  FIG.  1   ) from which the data may be accessed and/or may be stored. 
     In various embodiments, the system  100  also includes a display  140 , such as an interactive touchscreen display often included in navigation systems, with which a user may review map data or other data and/or interact with the system  100 . In various embodiments, the system  100  also includes an audio output device  142  to provide audible signals to a user, such as turn-by-turn directions. In various embodiments, the system  100  also includes an audio input device  144  to enable a user to provide verbal commands to engage with or control the system  100 . 
     In addition, in various embodiments, the system  100  includes data capture devices  150  that may be used by the system  100  to gather information about a route being traveled. In various embodiments, the data capture devices  150  are used to gather information about the route in addition to the positional coordinates provided by the positioning system  116 . The data capture devices  150  may be used to gather information about the nature and/or severity of the route, as further described below with reference to  FIG.  4    and other figures. In various embodiments, components of the computing device  110  and other devices included in the system  100  communicate via a bus  114  or similar conduit for exchanging data between the devices. It will be appreciated that, although the components of the computing device  110  and other devices included in the system  100  are shown as communicating via a single bus  114  in  FIG.  1   , multiple shareable buses and/or dedicated buses or communication lines for particular components or devices also may be used. 
     Referring additionally to  FIG.  2   , in various embodiments, the existing map storage  122  and the new map data  124  may reside within the computing device  110  and/or may be reside in remote existing map data  222  and remote new map data  224  accessible by one or more remote computing devices  110 . The remote existing data  222  may provide updates for the existing map data  122 , may provide map data for areas not regularly traveled by the system  100  ( FIG.  1   ) and, thus, not continually stored in the existing map data  122  residing within the computing device  110 . Similarly, when one or more new map data sets  130  are created in the computing device  110 , the new map data sets  130  may be copied or otherwise transferred to the remote new map data  224 . The new map data sets  130  may be continually or periodically transferred to the remote new map data  224  or transferred when a particular new map data set  130  is completed, such as when offroad travel ends when the system  100  resumes travel on a route included in the existing map data  122  or  222 . In addition, new map data sets  130  stored in the remote new map data  224  may be accessed via the computing device  110  to enable a user of the computing device  110  to review, consider, and/or navigate routes described by one or more new map data sets  130 , as described further below. In various embodiments, the remote existing map data  222  and the remote new map data  224  are configured to operate as virtual storage or cloud storage such. Therefore, the exchange of information between the computing device  110  and the remote computing device  210  may be transparent to a user, without requiring any actions by the user to transfer data between the devices  110  and  210  or knowledge of the user that the data resides on which of the devices  110  and  210 . The computing device  110  and the remote computing device  210  may communicate via a Wide Area Network  250 , as further described below with reference to  FIG.  16   . 
     Referring additionally to  FIG.  3   , the positioning system  116  may include one or more different systems usable to determine positional coordinates of the system  100  ( FIG.  1   ). In various embodiments, the positioning system  116  may include a Global Positioning System  316 , a global navigation satellite system that triangulates a position of the positioning system in two-dimensional or three-dimensional space by communicating with three or more geosynchronous satellites. In various embodiments, in addition to the Global Positioning System  316 , the system  100  may include a geolocation system  318 . The geolocation system  318  may communicate with transmission sources, such as cellular communications towers or other wireless networks. By evaluating signal strength and/or triangulating these transmission sources, the geolocation system  318  may also determine positional coordinates of the positioning system  116 . The Global Positioning System  316  and the geolocation system  318  may operate independently or in concert in which one of the systems  316  or  318  may complement the positional information available from the other of the systems  316  or  318  to provide positional coordinates of greater accuracy. 
     Referring additionally to  FIG.  4   , in various embodiments, the data capture devices  150  include one or more devices configured to capture data usable to represent and/or evaluate a new route that is travelled. The system  100  ( FIG.  1   ) may incorporate one or more data capture devices  150  and/or the system  100  may be coupled with data capture devices  150 , such as those that may be included with a vehicle (not shown in  FIG.  4   ) with which the system is also associated. In various embodiments, the data capture devices  150  include an inertial measurement unit  452 . The inertial measurement unit  452  may include one or more of accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, or other devices that are configured to detect and measure accelerations, forces, angular rates, angular orientation in one or more planes, or other data. As a result, the inertial measurement unit  452  may determine an incline of a slope, a sharpness of a turn, or other aspects of a route that may be representative of its severity and travelability. 
     In various embodiments, the data capture devices  150  also may include a compass  454  to measure orientation relative to the Earth&#39;s magnetic field. In various embodiments, an altimeter  456  may measure an altitude of a point (independently or in concert with data provided by the positioning system  116 . In various embodiments, one or more cameras  458  may be used to capture image data representative of terrain or scenery. In various embodiments, other devices  460  also may include to measure roughness, slipperiness, or severity of terrain, or other information that be of interest in evaluating a particular route. 
     The operation of the devices of  FIGS.  1 - 4    is further described below with reference to an example using the system  100  in travel. For purposes of the example, it is assumed that the system  100  and at least a portion of the devices herein described are associated with a vehicle that travels both on a known route included in the existing map data  122  and on a route that is not included in the existing map data  122 . 
     Referring additionally to  FIG.  5   , the system  100  is transported by a vehicle (not shown in  FIG.  5   ). A position  500  of the vehicle is represented on a map  505  presented on the display  140  of the system  100 . The position  500  of the vehicle is on a known route  520  which, along with other numerous known routes  525 , are included in the existing map data  122  of the system  100 . In various embodiments, the positioning system  116  generates positional coordinates  550  that describes the position  500  of the vehicle in a two-axis space (x, y) to describe a lateral location of the vehicle or a three-axis space (x, y, z) to describe lateral and altitudinal locations of the vehicle. The system  100  is configured to attempt to correlate the positional coordinates  550  with the existing map data  122 . 
     Because the system determines the position  500  of the vehicle is on the known route  520  that is included in the existing map data  122 , the system  100  may provide navigation assistance using only the existing map data  122  without consulting the new map data  124  (which is thus represented in dotted lines in  FIG.  5   ). It will be appreciated that the map  505  also may include at least one open area  530  that does not include any of the known roads  520  and/or  525 . The open area  530  may include unmapped terrain, bodies of water, and/or other geographic features that are not spanned by known roads  520  and/or  525 . 
     Referring additionally to  FIG.  6   , a position  600  of the vehicle shows that the vehicle has departed the known road  520  and is now located in the open area  530 . The positioning system  116  generates positional coordinates (x′, y′, z′)  650  which the system  100  determines is off of the known roads  520  and/or  525 . Accordingly, the position  600  of the vehicle is no longer described within the existing map data  122  (which is thus represented in dotted lines in  FIG.  6   ) and is situated on an unmapped route  605 . In various embodiments, in response to the system  100  determining that the position  600  of the vehicle is not included in the existing map data  122 , the system  100  logs the positional coordinates  650  for the position  600  and other coordinates traveled on the unmapped route  605  for inclusion in a new map data set  630 . 
     In various embodiments, in addition to logging the positional coordinates  650 ,  660 , and  670  along the unmapped route  605 , the system  100  also collects data using the data capture devices  150  ( FIGS.  1  and  4   ) to collect additional data  651 ,  661 , and  671 , respectively, at points along the unmapped route  605 . In various embodiments, the additional data  651  collected for the positional coordinates  650  may include a pitch  652  of a slope or a roll  653  of the surface determined by the inertial measurement unit  452  ( FIG.  4   ) or another device. In various embodiments, the additional data  651  also may include an orientation  653 , such as a compass heading relative to a  360 -degree frame of reference determined by the compass  454  ( FIG.  4   ). In various embodiments, the additional data  651  also may include a recorded angular acceleration  655  at the point of capture to reflect the force acting on the vehicle at the positional coordinates  650  as determined by the inertial measurement unit  452  or another device. In various embodiments, the additional data may include still or motion images  656  that capture views of the unmapped route  605  from forward-facing, rear-facing, or side-facing cameras. In various embodiments, the positional coordinates  650 ,  660 , and  670  and the additional data  651 ,  661 , and  671 , respectively, are stored in the new map data set  630  to record a detailed record of the unmapped route  605  for later analysis and consideration, as further described below. 
     It will be appreciated that data for the unmapped route  605 , including the positional coordinates  650 ,  660 , and  670  and the respective additional data  651 ,  661 , and  671 , may be sampled at any desired rate and in any desired manner. In various embodiments, the sampling may be performed at a predetermined time interval or a predetermined distance interval, or the intervals may vary depending on speed, slope, angular acceleration, user preferences, or other considerations. In various embodiments, each type of additional information  651 ,  661 , or  671  may be collected at each of the associated positional coordinates  650 ,  660 , and  670 , respectively. In various embodiments, the types of additional information  651 ,  661 , or  671  may be sampled at some predetermined portion of the associated positional coordinates  650 ,  660 , and  670 , respectively. For example, images  656  may not be collected at each of the positional coordinates  650 ,  660 , and  670 , but at a sampling thereof based on time, distance traveled, or other parameters. The sampling may be predetermined or adjustable based on user preferences. Neither the rate of sampling or types of data collected are limited. 
     Referring additionally to  FIG.  7   , in various embodiments upon completion of the unmapped route  605 , the new map data set  630  is uploaded to the new map data  224  at the remote computing device  210 . In various embodiments, the unmapped route  605  is considered to be completed when the position  700  of vehicle is once again determined to be on a known road, such as the known road  520  included in the existing map data  122 . The new map data set  630  may be communicated to the remote computing device  210  using the Wide Area Network  250  ( FIG.  2   ). In various embodiments, data included in the new map data set  630  also may be continually transmitted to the remote computing device  210  as the data is collected, or the data may be communicated at a selected or predetermined interval. 
     It will be appreciated that, while the vehicle is away from known roads  520  and/or  525 , it is possible that the vehicle may be out of range of the Wide Area Network  250  and, thus, be unable to upload the new map data set  630  while traveling the unmapped route  605 . Thus, it may be desirable to upload the new map data set  630  after completing travel on the unmapped route  605 . In addition, it will be appreciated that not every known route  520  and/or  525  may be within communications range of the Wide Area Network  250 , thus, the new map data set  630  may be maintained on the system  100  until transmission of the Wide Area Network  250  is available. It also may be desirable to transmit the new map data set  630  when the system  100  is within range of a Wi-Fi network to avoid using bandwidth on a cellular network or other Wide Area Network  250 . Embodiments are not limited to any particular process or timing for transmission of the new map data set  630  to the remote computing device  210 . 
     Referring additionally to  FIG.  8   , in various embodiments, a scoring system  800  may be used to assign a score  810  to the unmapped route  605  ( FIGS.  6  and  7   ) represented in the new route data set  630 . In various embodiments, the scoring system  800  may include a software module that executes on the computing device  110  and/or the remote computing device  210  that evaluates elements of the new route data set  630  to evaluate a level of challenge or difficulty presented by the unmapped route  605 . 
     In various embodiments, the scoring system  800  may evaluate the additional data  651 ,  661 , and  671  associated with each of the respective positional coordinates  650 ,  660 , and  670  and assign a score based on whether any of the parameters such as pitch  652 , roll  653 , angular acceleration  655 , or other parameters exceed various thresholds. When the new route data set  630  does not include any parameters that exceed any of the thresholds, the scoring system  800  may assign a score  810  indicating that the unmapped route  605  ( FIG.  6   ) is not difficult. By contrast, if the new route data set  630  includes parameters that exceed increasingly higher thresholds that may indicate a more difficult route, a score  810  indicating a higher degree of difficulty may be assigned by the scoring system  800 . The score  810  may be associated with the new route data set  630  for the unmapped route  605  may be associated with the new route data set  630 . Thus, when a user considers the unmapped route  605  as described below, the score  810  may help the user to decide whether to travel the unmapped route  605 . 
     Referring additionally to  FIG.  9   , with the new route data set  630  made available via the remote computing device  210 , either the user that operated the vehicle to generate the new route data set  630  or other users may access the new route data set  630 . For example, a user  910  of a computing device  110  associated with a vehicle may search available new route datasets  905 , which may include the new route data sets  930 . The available new route datasets  905  may be searchable by location, duration, distance, degree of difficulty, or other parameters. The user  901  of the computing device  110  may be in their vehicle near the location of the unmapped route  605  ( FIG.  6   ) associated with the new route data set  630 . Using the Wide Area Network  250  to access the remote computing device  210 , the user  901  may find the new route data set  930  and decide to travel the unmapped data route  605 . 
     In various embodiments, users may search the available new route datasets  905  from other devices as well. For example, a user  902  of a computer  912 , whether it be a desktop computer, laptop computer, tablet computer, or other computing system capable of accessing the remote computing device  210  via the Wide Area Network  250  also may research the unmapped route  605  described by the new route data set  630 . Similarly, a user  903  of a smartphone  913 , may access the remote computing device  210  via the Wide Area Network  250  also may research unmapped route  605  described by the new route data set  630 . Thus, according to various embodiments, a user may use the system  100  to capture the new route data set  630  about the previously unmapped route so that they may revisit the route. In various embodiments, the new map data set  630  may be made available to others so that they may follow the route for which the original user recorded the new route data set  630 . 
     Referring additionally to  FIG.  10   , once a user finds the new route data set  630 , the user can access the new route data set  630  in order to travel the unmapped route  630  described by the new route data set  630 . Using a navigation system such as the system  100 , the user may retrieve the new route data set  630 . In various embodiments, the system  100  presents the route  605  described by the new route data set  630  on the display  140 , similar to how the system  100  may present a route to a selected destination from the existing map data  122 . In various embodiments, a user may make a selection along the route  605  (such as by using a digit  1010 ) to retrieve data about a location on the route  605 , such as position coordinates  1050  and additional data  1051  that may include pitch  1052 , roll  1053 , orientation  1054 , and angular acceleration  1055 . The user also may be able to retrieve images  1056  that were captured with and associated with the position coordinates  1050 . 
     In various embodiments, the system  100  may integrated into a vehicle such as a car, truck, sport utility vehicle, van, or recreational vehicle. In various embodiments, the vehicle also may include a motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle, or an electrically-powered moped or bicycle. 
     Referring additionally to  FIG.  11   , in various embodiments a vehicle  1100  includes the system  100  for logging positional coordinates and additional data for an unmapped route as herein described. In various embodiments, the vehicle  1100  includes a body  1102  that may include a cabin  1104  capable of accommodating an operator, one or more passengers, and/or cargo and a cargo area  1106  separate from the cabin  1104 , such as a trunk or a truck bed, capable of transporting cargo. The system  100  may be accessible from the cabin  1104 . The vehicle  1100  includes a drive system  1120 , as further described below, which is selectively engageable with one or more front wheels  1122  and/or one or more rear wheels  1124  to motivate, accelerate, decelerate, stop, and steer the vehicle  1100 . In various embodiments, the vehicle  1100  also includes data capture devices  1150 , such as those previously described with reference to  FIG.  4   . In various embodiments, the system  100  may be in communication with both the data capture devices  1150  and the drive system  1120  which may include sensing or data capture devices that also may be used to collect data about the terrain being traveled. 
     Referring additionally to  FIG.  12   , in various embodiments the system  100  may be used with an electrically-powered vehicle  1200 . The wheels  1212  and/or  1214  may be motivated by one or more electrically-powered drive systems  1220  and/or  1224 , such as motors, operably coupled with the wheels  1212  and/or  1214 . The drive systems  1222  and  1224  draw power from the battery system, which also may be used to power the system  100 . 
     Referring additionally to  FIG.  13   , in various embodiments the system  100  may be used with an internal combustion engine-powered vehicle  1300 . The wheels  1312  and/or  1314  may be motivated by an internal combustion or hybrid engine  1320  coupled with a fuel tank  1310  via a fuel line  1311 . The engine  1320  may be coupled to the wheels  1312  and/or  1314  by mechanical linkages  1330  and  1340 , respectively, including axles, transaxles, or other drive train systems to provide rotational force to power the wheels  1312  and/or  1314 . It will be appreciated that  FIGS.  11 - 13    show four-wheeled land vehicles. However, as previously mentioned, it will be appreciated that the system  100  may be integrated with other land vehicles. 
     Referring additionally to  FIG.  14   , in various embodiments, the system  100  may be integrated into a dashboard or console  1410  within a cabin of a vehicle. The display  140  ( FIG.  1   ) may be fixed to the dashboard or console  1410  where it can be accessed by an operator or passenger of the vehicle. In various embodiments, a portable computing device  1450  may be configured as described with reference to the system  100  and transported aboard the vehicle. The portable computing device  1450 , which may include a smartphone, a tablet computer, or another portable device, may interface with the data capture devices  150  ( FIG.  1   ) via a wired or wireless interface  1460 . 
     Referring additionally to  FIG.  15    and given by way of example only and not of limitation, the system  100  may include a general purpose computing system  1500  configured to operate according to computer-executable instructions for logging positional coordinates and additional information. The computing system  1500  typically includes at least one processor  112 , as described with reference to  FIG.  1   , and a system memory  1530 . Depending on the configuration and type of computing system, the system memory  1530  may include volatile memory, such as random-access memory (“RAM”), non-volatile memory, such as read-only memory (“ROM”), flash memory, and the like, or a combination of volatile memory and non-volatile memory. The system memory  1530  typically maintains an operating system  1531 , one or more applications  1532 , and program data  1534 . The operating system  1531  may include any number of operating systems executable on desktop or portable devices including, but not limited to, Linux, Microsoft Windows®, Apple iOS®, or Android®, or a proprietary operating system. The applications  1532  may include the instructions  120  to log positional coordinates and additional data as herein described, as well as instructions to send or receive new map data sets, as previously described. The program data  1534  may include the existing map data  122  and the new map data  124 , as previously described. 
     The computing system  1500  may also have additional features or functionality. For example, the computing system  1500  may also include additional data storage devices (removable and/or non-removable) such as, for example, magnetic disks, optical disks, tape, or flash memory. Such additional storage devices are illustrated in  FIG.  15    by removable storage  1540  and non-removable storage  1550 . Computer storage media may include volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information, such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. The system memory  1530 , the removable storage  1540 , and the non-removable storage  1550  are all examples of computer storage media. Available types of computer storage media include, but are not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory (in both removable and non-removable forms) or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by the computing system  1500 . Any such computer storage media may be part of the computing system  1500 . 
     The computing system  1500  may also have input device(s)  1560  such as a keyboard, stylus, voice input device, touchscreen input device, etc. Output device(s)  1570  such as a display, speakers, short-range transceivers such as a Bluetooth transceiver, etc., may also be included. The computing system  1500  also may include one or more communication systems  1580  that allow the computing system  1500  to communicate with the Wide Area Network  250  ( FIG.  2   ) other computing systems  1590 , such as the remote computing device  210 . The communication system  1580  may include systems for wired or wireless communications. Available forms of communication media typically carry computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” may include a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of illustrative example only and not of limitation, communications media may include wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, radio frequency (RF), infrared and other wireless media. The term computer-readable media as used herein includes both storage media and communication media. The computing system  1500  may include the positioning system  116 , which may include Global Positioning System (“GPS”) and/or geolocation circuitry, as previously described. 
     In addition to one or more onboard computing systems, various embodiments may communicate with remote computing systems to perform the functions herein described. Referring additionally to  FIG.  16   , an operating environment  1600  may include one or more sets of remote computing systems  1610  which may operate like remote computing device  210  ( FIG.  2   ) to, for example, receive and source new map data sets  130 . It will be appreciated that the remote computing systems  1610  may include one or more computing devices  1622  that may reside at one or more locations. In various embodiments, the remote computing systems  1610  each may include a server or server farm. Instructions or data, such as the new map data sets  130  ( FIG.  1   ) may be stored in high-speed storage  1630  that is accessible by the remote computing systems  1610  over a high-speed bus  1626 . 
     In various embodiments, the remote computing systems  1610  communicate with the Wide Area Network  250  ( FIG.  2   ) over wired and/or wireless communications links  1613 . The system  100  may be integrated with or transportable aboard a vehicle, such as the vehicle  1100  ( FIG.  11   ). The system  100  may communicate over the Wide Area Network  250  via communications links  1611  to access the remote computing systems  1610  to store data to or retrieve data from the data storage  1630 . The communications links  1611  may include wireless communications links to enable mobile communications with the system  100  or may include a wired links to be used, for example, when the vehicle  1100  includes an electric vehicle that is stopped and/or plugged in for charging. As previously described, the system  100  also may be implemented on a portable computing device  1450  that may communicate with the Wide Area Network  250  via wireless communications links  1612 . 
     Referring additionally to  FIG.  17   , an illustrative method  1700  is provided for logging positional coordinates and additional data for an unmapped route. The method begins at a block  1705 . At a block  1710 , it is determined when a computing device travels an unmapped route that is not included in existing map data. At a block  1720 , responsive to determining that the computing device travels the unmapped route, positional coordinates for each of a plurality of points along the unmapped route are logged in a new map data set. At a block  1730 , additional data is logged for at least a portion of the unmapped route in the new map data set. At a block  1740 , the new map data set is communicated to a remote data store from which another user can access the new map data. The method ends at a block  1745 . 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize that at least a portion of the devices and/or processes described herein can be integrated into a data processing system. Those having skill in the art will recognize that a data processing system generally includes one or more of a system unit housing, a video display device, memory such as volatile or non-volatile memory, processors such as microprocessors or digital signal processors, computational entities such as operating systems, drivers, graphical user interfaces, and applications programs, one or more interaction devices (e.g., a touch pad, a touch screen, an antenna, etc.), and/or control systems including feedback loops and control motors (e.g., feedback for sensing position and/or velocity; control motors for moving and/or adjusting components and/or quantities). A data processing system may be implemented utilizing suitable commercially available components, such as those typically found in data computing/communication and/or network computing/communication systems. 
     The term module, as used in the foregoing/following disclosure, may refer to a collection of one or more components that are arranged in a particular manner, or a collection of one or more general-purpose components that may be configured to operate in a particular manner at one or more particular points in time, and/or also configured to operate in one or more further manners at one or more further times. For example, the same hardware, or same portions of hardware, may be configured/reconfigured in sequential/parallel time(s) as a first type of module (e.g., at a first time), as a second type of module (e.g., at a second time, which may in some instances coincide with, overlap, or follow a first time), and/or as a third type of module (e.g., at a third time which may, in some instances, coincide with, overlap, or follow a first time and/or a second time), etc. Reconfigurable and/or controllable components (e.g., general purpose processors, digital signal processors, field programmable gate arrays, etc.) are capable of being configured as a first module that has a first purpose, then a second module that has a second purpose and then, a third module that has a third purpose, and so on. The transition of a reconfigurable and/or controllable component may occur in as little as a few nanoseconds, or may occur over a period of minutes, hours, or days. 
     In some such examples, at the time the component is configured to carry out the second purpose, the component may no longer be capable of carrying out that first purpose until it is reconfigured. A component may switch between configurations as different modules in as little as a few nanoseconds. A component may reconfigure on-the-fly, e.g., the reconfiguration of a component from a first module into a second module may occur just as the second module is needed. A component may reconfigure in stages, e.g., portions of a first module that are no longer needed may reconfigure into the second module even before the first module has finished its operation. Such reconfigurations may occur automatically, or may occur through prompting by an external source, whether that source is another component, an instruction, a signal, a condition, an external stimulus, or similar. 
     For example, a central processing unit of a personal computer may, at various times, operate as a module for displaying graphics on a screen, a module for writing data to a storage medium, a module for receiving user input, and a module for multiplying two large prime numbers, by configuring its logical gates in accordance with its instructions. Such reconfiguration may be invisible to the naked eye, and in some embodiments may include activation, deactivation, and/or re-routing of various portions of the component, e.g., switches, logic gates, inputs, and/or outputs. Thus, in the examples found in the foregoing/following disclosure, if an example includes or recites multiple modules, the example includes the possibility that the same hardware may implement more than one of the recited modules, either contemporaneously or at discrete times or timings. The implementation of multiple modules, whether using more components, fewer components, or the same number of components as the number of modules, is merely an implementation choice and does not generally affect the operation of the modules themselves. Accordingly, it should be understood that any recitation of multiple discrete modules in this disclosure includes implementations of those modules as any number of underlying components, including, but not limited to, a single component that reconfigures itself over time to carry out the functions of multiple modules, and/or multiple components that similarly reconfigure, and/or special purpose reconfigurable components. 
     In some instances, one or more components may be referred to herein as “configured to,” “configured by,” “configurable to,” “operable/operative to,” “adapted/adaptable,” “able to,” “conformable/conformed to,” etc. Those skilled in the art will recognize that such terms (for example “configured to”) generally encompass active-state components and/or inactive-state components and/or standby-state components, unless context requires otherwise. 
     While particular aspects of the present subject matter described herein have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from the subject matter described herein and its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein. It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (for example, bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (for example, the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to claims containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (for example, “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (for example, the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (for example, “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that typically a disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms unless context dictates otherwise. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be typically understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.” 
     The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments of the devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts, and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and/or examples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will be understood by those within the art that each function and/or operation within such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can be implemented, individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software (e.g., a high-level computer program serving as a hardware specification), firmware, or virtually any combination thereof, limited to patentable subject matter under 35 U.S.C.  101 . In an embodiment, several portions of the subject matter described herein may be implemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), or other integrated formats. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, in whole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in integrated circuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or more computers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computer systems), as one or more programs running on one or more processors (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more microprocessors), as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof, limited to patentable subject matter under 35 U.S.C.  101 , and that designing the circuitry and/or writing the code for the software (e.g., a high-level computer program serving as a hardware specification) and or firmware would be well within the skill of one of skill in the art in light of this disclosure. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the mechanisms of the subject matter described herein are capable of being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, and that an illustrative embodiment of the subject matter described herein applies regardless of the particular type of signal bearing medium used to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signal bearing medium include, but are not limited to, the following: a recordable type medium such as a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, a Compact Disc (CD), a Digital Video Disk (DVD), a digital tape, a computer memory, etc.; and a transmission type medium such as a digital and/or an analog communication medium (e.g., a fiber optic cable, a waveguide, a wired communications link, a wireless communication link (e.g., transmitter, receiver, transmission logic, reception logic, etc.), etc.). 
     With respect to the appended claims, those skilled in the art will appreciate that recited operations therein may generally be performed in any order. Also, although various operational flows are presented in a sequence(s), it should be understood that the various operations may be performed in other orders than those which are illustrated or may be performed concurrently. Examples of such alternate orderings may include overlapping, interleaved, interrupted, reordered, incremental, preparatory, supplemental, simultaneous, reverse, or other variant orderings, unless context dictates otherwise. Furthermore, terms like “responsive to,” “related to,” or other past-tense adjectives are generally not intended to exclude such variants, unless context dictates otherwise. 
     While the disclosed subject matter has been described in terms of illustrative embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the claimed subject matter as set forth in the claims. 
     It will be appreciated that the detailed description set forth above is merely illustrative in nature and variations that do not depart from the gist and/or spirit of the claimed subject matter are intended to be within the scope of the claims. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter.