DTC Navigation and Security Solutions
Passion for Navigation

There is a surge in demand for navigation systems due to its growing applications in commercial automobiles, high-end defence, as well as naval and space sectors. To meet the need and scale of manufacturing operations, OEMs are playing a critical role in helping key players in the market strengthen their financial performance by improving all aspects of their value chain from product development and supply-chain optimization. One company that has carved out a niche in this space is DTC Navigation and Security Solutions based in Munich, Germany. As the exclusive representative of Oxford Technical Solutions (OxTS), the company distributes the inertial navigation systems to capture accurate data for dynamic vehicle tests and autonomous vehicle sensor validation for manufacturers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

"Our system helps initiating emergency braking systems that can avert accidents with vulnerable road users like pedestrians, cyclists and motorcycle drivers."

“The challenge is to achieve an accuracy of less than 2 cm in positioning with geo-orbital positioning systems like GPS, Glonass, Galileo or Beidou,” states Head of Technical Sales, Stefan Lohmüller, DTC Solutions.

DTC’s inertial navigation systems developed by OxTS are used by automobile manufacturers all over the world to achieve the 5-star approbation and Euro NCAP Certification. The company’s high-precision navigation systems are essential for the development of accident avoidance solutions. In addition to high-precision position, the inertial systems also measure additional data such as speed, orientation angle, acceleration and many more. Furthermore, to collect audio or visual signals of driver assistance systems like lane-keeping assist and autonomous brake assist systems for Euro NCAP testing--DTC Solutions offers, ‘the AVAD3.’ The system is designed to capture acoustic and optical alerts or signals generated by advanced driver assistance systems in the vehicle. AVAD3 outputs trigger to the TTL, LAN and CAN when it recognizes changes of the shapes and colours of defined icons or when audible signals are identified. The core of the AVAD3 consists of a high-end processor for the analysis of the images and messages in a robust automotive box. Due to NCAP regulations, AVAD3 is not allowed to monitor the time of warning for the driver through the instrument cluster by the internal bus systems. Instead, the signal is monitored using an external camera, and the latency of the output is within 6 milliseconds.

“The company’s experienced technical staff is capable of integrating systems in non-typical environments,” says Stefan. To illustrate the effectiveness of DTC’s solution, Stefan cites a case-study, where a car manufacturer required a simulated traffic jam environment to test automatic distance control for autonomous driving scenarios. DTC Solutions developed an automotive proving ground that simulated and included all aspects of a real-life traffic jam scenario such as slow-moving cars, walking pedestrians, cyclists and more. This helped the car manufacturer to further progress in its testing and achieve the five levels of autonomous driving. “Our system helps to initiate emergency braking systems that can avert accidents with vulnerable road users like pedestrians, cyclists and motorcycle drivers,” explains Stefan. Moving on, DTC Solutions plans to expand to its product lines by collaborating with Ouster to introduce local transport systems such as trains and surveillance companies with lidar solutions that deliver a highly effective and clear point cloud of the surrounding environment.