Crazy Question of the Day: RNS-E control knob?

2473 Views 15 Replies 7 Participants Last post by PetrolDave, Jan 20, 2006

Jack_Smackus

Discussion Starter · Jan 19, 2006

Ok I know this is a crazy idea but thought I would ask just out of curiosity.

I was looking at Audi pictures and I notice that in the A6 and above the nav is setup differently. The screen is seperate to the control knob button thing. Do you think you could re-locate or attach a second set of knob and button thing to a better location like near the gear shift? All I am talking about is the dial with the four buttons around it. I am not talking about all of the buttons on the RNS-E.

Obviously this is a custom job but just curious as to how pheasable it would be to re-locate or add a secondary?

It just make so much more sense to have it closer to you than where it is now. Thoughts? Comments?
Here it is in the A3:

And here it is in the A6 down near the gear shift:

See less See more

2

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

adrianma

· #2 · Jan 19, 2006

that has been like that for a long time.

an audi tech funnily told me that the rns-e was developed for RHD cars which explains why the knob is so far damn to the right, i'm sur elots of people with average length arms find it annoying to stretch across.. but thats just the way its built

the old in dash navigation system has their control know where the cigarette lighter place is, but i haven't seen anyone fit thta to an RNS-e

g4tsoman

· #3 · Jan 19, 2006

hehe - its great having it designed for a RHD!

I wish they had done that with the handbrake as well!!

fritzner

· #4 · Jan 19, 2006

i am pretty sure the RNS-E is designed for LHD cars (audi is a german company and cars in germany are LHD)..

i believe the buttons were located on the right so the screen could be as close to the drivers line of sight as possible (still pretty far away, but it is as good as it can get)..

also i am not sure what percentage but factory installed RNS-Es are often (if not always) accompanied with multifunctional steering wheels..

though none of these comments help you relocate your buttons.. if you find a donor faceplate; cut it to fit your new location; and jumper the buttons back to your original faceplate - you might be able to get it to work??..

PROXUS

· #5 · Jan 19, 2006

RNS-E unit was designed for European market. fritzner is right, screen visibility was a big factor in RNS-E design.

Beside new A8 and A6 there is no secondary control unit available, I mead knob type unit. A4 and A3 models equipped with RNS-E have also steering wheel controls.

You could probably retrofit one or another but it will be time and $ sensitive.

NSX JR

· #6 · Jan 19, 2006

The controls you see in the new A6 and A8 and Q7 run the MMI system which is completely different from the RNS-E. Their whole infotainment network is different and there is no way to retrofit any of these parts to work with an RNS-E system.

Jack_Smackus

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jan 19, 2006

Anyone have a photo of a RNS-E without the cover on?

adrianma

· #8 · Jan 19, 2006

i'm quite positive the rns was degisned for rhd, 2 supporting things are that the eject button cannot be reached after its opened. one strong argument is the main knob, the turning of the knob is very unintiative when you first use it, you ahve to turn left to scroll down, however, you will find that if you use it with your left hand sitting on the right side that everything works fine

PROXUS

· #9 · Jan 19, 2006

A4 chasis is small enough to allow easy access to all buttons unless somone have really short hands

As you see bigger models like A6 and A8 have MMI systems without controls next to the screen.

I doubt that somone would drive and open screen in the same time to switch CDs or SDs. Once screen is closed distance is no longer that distance to regular Symphony II radio knobs

PetrolDave

· #10 · Jan 19, 2006

The RNS-E was developed by Aisin.

Aisin are based in Japan.

Japanese cars are RHD.

So my theory is that Aisin developed the RNS-E to be easiest to use in the cars available to them, i.e. RHS Japanese models.

Having said that I do like the idea of having a second control knob and buttons by the handbrake - that would be cool!

See less See more

NSX JR

· #11 · Jan 19, 2006

What I'm telling you folks is that the MMI system control knobs (C6 and D3) communicate over the fiber optic MOST network. This is not compatible with any RNS-E that I have ever seen.

adrianma

· #12 · Jan 19, 2006

how about the old BIS driver in dash display nav? they had controls down by the handbrake

NSX JR

· #13 · Jan 19, 2006

Those controls actually worked through the instrument cluster so I'm not sure they'd have any effect on the RNS-E.

PetrolDave

· #14 · Jan 19, 2006

NSX JR said:
What I'm telling you folks is that the MMI system control knobs (C6 and D3) communicate over the fiber optic MOST network. This is not compatible with any RNS-E that I have ever seen.

I hear you.

But it would still be nice to be able to re-use the control knob from a broken RNS-E.

PROXUS

· #15 · Jan 20, 2006

PetrolDave said:
The RNS-E was developed by Aisin.

Aisin are based in Japan.

Japanese cars are RHD.

So my theory is that Aisin developed the RNS-E to be easiest to use in the cars available to them, i.e. RHS Japanese models.

Having said that I do like the idea of having a second control knob and buttons by the handbrake - that would be cool!

Not true ..Sure It was developed by Aisin Japan but for European market (see for ex. available lanuage options) not Japanese. They have already Japanese version of NavPlus for JP market.

[siteimg:4f88f1ac36]193[/siteimg:4f88f1ac36]

And as NSX JR said RNS-E systems are different than MOST, used in A6/A8 where the screen control is done only by "external" knobs

PetrolDave

· #16 · Jan 20, 2006

PROXUS said:
Not true ..Sure It was developed by Aisin Japan but for European market (see for ex. available lanuage options) not Japanese.

"For European market", yes. But their R&D lab is in Japan.

Anyone who works in R&D (like me) knows that you have to test your prototypes on the equipment around you, which often as not isn't it's intended place of use. By the time you get to test it in the intended place of use the cost and delay of a major design change (like mirror imaging the whole front panel) is too large to be considered.

BTW I drive a RHD car so for me the RNS-E is just great to use.

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.