Ukrainian developers Vladislav and Daryna Shynkarenko have launched a mobile app called \u00abOrientir\u00bb, which helps drivers stay on course even without GPS. The app uses the smartphone\u2019s built-in sensors to determine the vehicle\u2019s speed and direction of travel, comparing the data with a road map. The sat-nav is already available for the iPhone, features offline maps of Ukraine and has made it into the top three most popular apps in the \u00abNavigation\u00bb category on the Ukrainian App Store.<\/p>\n
The main feature \u00abOrientir\u00bb<\/strong> \u2014 the ability to continue navigation when the satellite signal is lost or indicates the vehicle\u2019s incorrect location. Such problems may arise, in particular, when electronic warfare equipment is in operation during air raid alerts.<\/p>\n Unlike conventional navigation apps, which rely primarily on satellite coordinates, this Ukrainian app uses data from the smartphone\u2019s motion sensors. The app analyses turns and estimates the distance travelled, then matches this data with the roads on the map.<\/p>\n The driver can set the starting location themselves. If the vehicle marker drifts, simply tap the map twice at the actual location. There are also buttons to adjust the speed at which the marker moves.<\/p>\n The developers recommend using the app continuously and securing your smartphone in a holder. This means that if the GPS signal is lost during your journey, the app will be able to continue navigating along the pre-set route.<\/p>\n However, the location calculated without a satellite signal remains approximate. During a long journey, the error may accumulate, so the app does not guarantee the same level of accuracy as a fully functional GPS.<\/p>\n As well as offering navigation without a satellite signal, the app provides the usual features of a sat-nav. Drivers can plan routes with multiple stops, search for addresses by house number and receive voice instructions in Ukrainian.<\/p>\n The app also supports downloading maps of Ukraine\u2019s regions and districts. Once you have saved the relevant area, navigation, address search and speed camera alerts can work without a mobile internet connection.<\/p>\n Other features include information on traffic jams, speed cameras, roadworks, accidents and road closures. Users can add their own reports on road conditions.<\/p>\n According to the developers, the GPS-free positioning feature currently works best in Kyiv and the surrounding area. The map coverage, however, extends across the whole of Ukraine.<\/p>\n According to the technology publication \u00abMezha\u00bb, the Ukrainian app \u00abOrientir\u00bb has been among the top three most popular navigation apps in the Ukrainian App Store for around three weeks.<\/p>\n According to the development team, between 6 and 24 October, drivers covered more than 34,000 kilometres using the app whilst connected to GPS, and approximately 9,000 kilometres without a satellite signal.<\/p>\n The total number of downloads has exceeded 23,000. However, the team believes that the actual distance travelled by users may be higher, as not all drivers share their journey statistics.<\/p>\nWhat features does \u00abOrientir\u00bb have?\u00bb<\/h2>\n
The navigator has already been downloaded more than 23,000 times<\/h2>\n