RIDE COMMAND Technology Deep Dive – Sled Tech EP. 9 | Polaris Snowmobiles

Summary

In this episode of Sled Tech, Nels explores the Polaris Ride Command, a digital ecosystem designed to enhance snowmobiling experiences. The system includes an app, GPS mapping, and a 7s display, offering real-time trail updates, group ride tracking, and vehicle information. The GPS works offline, allowing for mapping and group ride features without cell service. Ride Command also enables sharing of waypoints and ride data, making it easier to plan and enjoy snowmobile adventures with friends. New for 2024, the map gauges feature provides customizable vehicle data display while riding.

Takeaways

• 🚜 Ride Command is a digital ecosystem by Polaris designed to enhance the snowmobiling experience with features beyond just an app or display.
• 🗺️ The ecosystem includes detailed maps and GPS, providing real-time trail updates from local snowmobile clubs across North America.
• 👥 Group Ride is a standout feature, allowing riders to track friends' locations and communicate without the need for cell service through Polaris' proprietary nearfield communication.
• 📊 Vehicle information is readily available, including warning codes, maintenance intervals, and reminders, accessible both on the 7s display and through the Polaris app on a smartphone.
• 📴 The 7s display with Ride Command operates fully offline, providing GPS tracking, points of interest, and group ride functionality without the need for cell service.
• 🔗 Pairing a smartphone to the snowmobile via the Polaris account allows for automatic updates between the phone and display, such as waypoints and ride data.
• 📍 Points of interest and waypoints can be saved on the display and synced to the Polaris app, facilitating easy sharing and planning of rides.
• 🛤️ Snap to Trail is a feature on the Polaris app that allows riders to plan routes by snapping a line to the trail between two points, providing a near turn-by-turn navigation experience.
• 🌄 Satellite and landowner views can be overlaid on maps for better terrain visibility and understanding of land boundaries, aiding in planning and respecting private property.
• 📊 New for 2024, the 7s display allows customization of map gauges, enabling riders to view key vehicle information like engine temperature and RPM directly on the map screen.
• 📱 After a ride, all data can be synced to a smartphone, providing a record of the route, speed, and stops, which can be shared or kept private.

Q & A

What is Ride Command and how does it enhance snowmobiling experience?

Ride Command is a digital ecosystem developed by Polaris for Powersports, specifically snowmobiles. It includes an app on your phone and a display on the vehicle, which together make snowmobiling easier and more fun by providing features like GPS mapping, group ride tracking, and vehicle information.

When did Polaris start developing Ride Command?

Polaris started developing Ride Command back in 2014 with the aim of providing better mapping and GPS features for their off-road vehicles and snowmobiles.

How does Ride Command's mapping system differ from off-the-shelf solutions?

Ride Command's mapping system is purpose-built for Powersports, focusing on the backcountry rather than highways. It includes real-time updates from local snowmobile clubs, ensuring the trails are current and accurate.

What is the core functionality of the Ride Command app on a smartphone?

The Ride Command app allows users to track rides, monitor maintenance intervals, receive reminders, and access vehicle information. It also enables users to save and share waypoints, and update the vehicle's display when connected.

How does the group ride feature work on Ride Command?

The group ride feature uses nearfield communication to show the location of friends on the trail. It allows users to link snowmobiles with the 7s display to each other, see each other's location, and message back and forth.

What kind of vehicle data can be accessed through the Ride Command display?

The Ride Command display provides various vehicle data, including warning codes, brief explanations of issues, and tracking of different aspects of the snowmobile's performance.

Can Ride Command function without cell service?

Yes, Ride Command is designed to work fully offline. The 7s display with Ride Command can perform GPS tracking, show waypoints, points of interest, and group ride information without the need for cell service.

How do you pair a smartphone to a snowmobile for Ride Command?

To pair a smartphone to a snowmobile, you connect both through a Polaris account. This allows the phone and display to update each other whenever they connect, even when out of cell service range.

What is the Snap to Trail feature on the Ride Command app?

Snap to Trail is a feature on the Ride Command app that allows users to select a start and end point, and the app will automatically route a trail between those points, providing a predetermined route to follow on the display.

How can you share a ride with others using Ride Command?

After a ride, you can export the data from the display to your phone through the app. From there, you can share the ride with others via the Polaris app, text, or keep it private if you prefer.

What are the benefits of the satellite and landowner views on the Ride Command display?

The satellite view provides detailed terrain information, which is helpful for planning rides and navigating difficult spots. The landowner view shows the boundaries of public and private lands, ensuring riders respect private property and stay within legal riding areas.

What new feature was introduced for the 2024 model in terms of displaying additional information on the 7s display?

For the 2024 model, a new feature called Map Gauges was introduced. It allows users to customize the display to show key information such as engine temperature and RPM while using the map.

Outlines

00:00

🚜 Ride Command Overview and Setup

Nels introduces the Ride Command system, emphasizing its role as a digital ecosystem for snowmobiling, enhancing both ease and enjoyment. Ride Command, initiated by Polaris in 2014, offers superior mapping and GPS tailored for off-road vehicles. The system consists of a mobile app and vehicle displays, exemplified by the 7s display. It focuses on mapping with real-time trail updates from trail clubs, group ride functionality for tracking and messaging between snowmobiles, and comprehensive vehicle information. The system operates offline, eliminating the need for cell service during rides. Nels also explains the initial setup process, which involves pairing the mobile app with the snowmobile via a Polaris account.

05:02

🗺️ GPS Mapping and Group Ride Features

This section delves into the GPS mapping capabilities of the Ride Command system, detailing preloaded points of interest and the ability to save personal waypoints. The 'Snap to Trail' feature on the Polaris app is highlighted for planning routes. Group ride is discussed as a key feature, allowing for non-cellular communication between snowmobiles to share locations and messages, enhancing safety and group cohesion. The process of starting or joining a group ride via the display is outlined, along with the ability to use group ride on mobile phones with cell service.

10:02

🏞️ Satellite and Landowner Views, Post-Ride Tracking

The script covers the use of satellite and landowner views for better terrain planning and awareness of private lands and restrictions. It explains how these views can be accessed on both the Polaris app and the 7s display when tethered. The final part of the ride is discussed, including how the system tracks the entire journey, allowing riders to review their route, speed, and stops. New for 2024, the script introduces map gauges, which allow riders to customize the information displayed on the map screen during the ride. The episode concludes with a reminder to check out how-to videos on YouTube for more detailed instructions on using Ride Command features.

Keywords

💡Ride Command

Ride Command is a digital ecosystem developed by Polaris that enhances the snowmobiling experience by integrating various technological features. It is not just an app or a display, but a comprehensive system that includes GPS, mapping, group ride functionalities, and vehicle information. The script emphasizes its role in making snowmobiling more enjoyable and easier, providing real-time trail updates, and allowing riders to track and communicate with each other without the need for cell service.

💡Polaris

Polaris is the company behind the development of Ride Command. They started this initiative in 2014 with the aim of providing better mapping and GPS features for their off-road vehicles and snowmobiles. The script highlights Polaris's commitment to creating a system tailored to the unique needs of power sports enthusiasts, setting Ride Command apart from generic off-the-shelf solutions.

💡7s Display

The 7s Display is a component of the Ride Command system, specifically designed for snowmobiles. It serves as an interactive interface that provides riders with essential information such as GPS tracking, vehicle data, and group ride coordination. The script mentions it as the core display for Ride Command, allowing riders to have a hands-on experience with the technology while on the snow.

💡Group Ride

Group Ride is a feature within the Ride Command system that allows riders to track and communicate with each other during their snowmobiling adventures. It uses nearfield communication technology to share location data between snowmobiles equipped with the 7s Display. The script describes it as an invaluable tool for ensuring that all members of a group stay connected and aware of each other's positions, enhancing both the safety and enjoyment of the ride.

💡GPS

GPS, or Global Positioning System, is a technology that provides location and time information in all weather conditions, anywhere on or near the Earth where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites. In the context of the script, GPS is a key feature of Ride Command, enabling riders to know their exact location on the trail and to share waypoints with each other, which is crucial for navigation and coordination in the backcountry.

💡Mapping

Mapping, in the script, refers to the detailed cartographic representations of trails and terrains available within the Ride Command app and 7s Display. It includes over a million miles of trails across North America, updated in real-time by trail clubs and local contributors. The mapping feature is essential for planning routes, finding points of interest, and ensuring that riders stay on designated trails.

💡Vehicle Information

Vehicle Information is a part of the Ride Command system that provides riders with data about their snowmobile's performance and status. This includes warning codes, maintenance intervals, and other relevant data displayed on the 7s Display. The script highlights how this feature allows riders to monitor their vehicle's health and receive reminders for necessary maintenance, contributing to a safer and more informed riding experience.

💡Nearfield Communication

Nearfield Communication (NFC) is a technology that enables the exchange of data between devices over a short distance. In the Ride Command system, as mentioned in the script, NFC is used for the Group Ride feature, allowing snowmobiles with the 7s Display to connect and communicate with each other, facilitating the sharing of location and messages among riders.

💡Points of Interest

Points of Interest (POIs) are specific locations marked within the Ride Command mapping system that riders might find useful or enjoyable. These can include restaurants, gas stations, or scenic spots. The script explains that the app and display come pre-loaded with various POIs, which can be updated periodically, and riders can save their own favorite spots as POIs for future reference.

💡Snap to Trail

Snap to Trail is a feature within the Ride Command app that allows riders to plan their routes by selecting start and end points. The system then automatically generates a trail route between these points, providing a form of turn-by-turn navigation on the display. The script describes this as a valuable tool for both trail and mountain riders, making it easier to plan and follow a specific route while snowmobiling.

💡Satellite Views

Satellite Views is a feature of the Ride Command system that provides riders with overhead imagery of the terrain. This can be particularly useful for planning routes, understanding the landscape, and finding the best paths out of difficult situations. The script mentions that Satellite Views can be used in conjunction with the app and, if tethered to a display, can provide detailed terrain information that aids in navigation.

💡Land Owner Views

Land Owner Views is a feature within the Ride Command system that allows riders to see the boundaries between public and private lands. This is crucial for respecting land ownership rights and ensuring that riders stay within legal boundaries, especially when traversing areas with a mix of land ownership. The script explains that this feature is available on both the app and the display, helping riders to plan their rides responsibly.

💡Map Gauges

Map Gauges is a new feature for 2024 introduced in the Ride Command system that allows riders to customize the information displayed on their 7s Display while viewing maps. Riders can choose to see key vehicle data such as engine temperature and RPM directly on the map screen. The script highlights this as a way to get more information at a glance without cluttering the map view, enhancing the riding experience by keeping vital data visible and accessible.

Highlights

Introduction to Ride Command as a digital ecosystem for snowmobiles.

Ride Command started in 2014 by Polaris for better mapping and GPS in off-road vehicles.

The ecosystem includes a mobile app and vehicle displays, focusing on enhancing snowmobiling experience.

Maps GPS feature with real-time updates from trail clubs for accurate trail information.

Group Ride feature allows tracking friends' locations and messaging on the trail without cell service.

Vehicle information display shows warning codes and maintenance reminders.

The mobile app can track rides, maintenance, and provide vehicle information.

Ride Command works offline with GPS, points of interest, and group ride functionality.

Pairing the mobile app with the snowmobile through a Polaris account for updates and sharing.

How to use the mapping and GPS software for preloaded points of interest and custom waypoints.

Snap to Trail feature for planning routes between two points on the mobile app.

Group Ride functionality on the 7s display for buddy tracking and messaging.

Group Ride can also be used on mobile phones with cell service.

Satellite and land owner views for better terrain planning and awareness of riding areas.

Post-ride tracking and data analysis through the app for route review and sharing.

New for 2024: Map Gauges feature on the 7s display for customizable information viewing.

How-to videos on YouTube for detailed instructions on using Ride Command features.

Conclusion of the episode with an invitation to check out more Sled Tech episodes.

Transcripts

hey guys it's Nels we're back with

another episode of sled te as you can

probably tell we made it out of the shop

and got out on the hill and found some

snow uh today we're going to focus all

about ride command now ride command is

more than just an app on your phone or

the display it's really a digital

ecosystem that makes riding your

snowmobile way easier and way more fun

and today we're going to dive into all

the little details on how it works and

how you can use it out on the

[Music]

hill

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so when a lot of people think ride

command on a Polaris the first thought

is the display and the reality is it's a

whole lot more than that uh ride command

was something that Polaris started way

back in 2014 and the purpose was we we

wanted better mapping and GPS and some

of those features on our our products

off-road vehicles snowmobiles and more

uh but any of the off the-shelf

Solutions weren't going to work for

Power Sports po Sports is really

different we're not out on the highway

we're out in the back country right we

have a different need and so ride

command is a purpose-built digital

ecosystem that's really designed around

Powersports built by Polaris run by

Polaris uh and something that we've been

working on for quite a long time the

core pieces of of ride command are the

app on the phone so it's a free app on

your phone that you can uh download and

have on your phone and then the displays

on the vehicles the display on the

snowmobile is the 7s display like we've

got here at its core ride command is is

really focused on a few key things and

they're all about making the experience

out on the snow more fun and easier the

the first is Maps GPS right knowing

where you are um all of the ride command

uh the the app on the phone the software

and then the software that's in the

display has full maps for all of North

America and more it's got over a million

miles of trails and all of those Trail

information are uploaded by Trail clubs

normal people that work at the trail

clubs we work with them we've got Trail

Club teams all over the country and

Canada that work with these local Trail

clubs get their latest trails in so it's

not some outdated map that we've just

copied into the software it's actual

trails that are being updated in real

time uh by these people who are working

at these awesome snowmobile clubs on the

ground the other couple key pieces the

the next one is group ride and this is

this is my favorite part and this is

something that's just absolutely awesome

to have it's a proprietary design by

Polaris nearfield communication between

Vehicles what it does is it shows you

where your friends are on the trail on

the hill whatever it is on your display

it's super easy to do we'll get into a

little bit later of of how exactly to

get into the display and and pair that

up uh but it links snowmobiles with the

7s display to each other you can see

where each other are and message back

and forth the the last key piece is

vehicle information so uh on the display

side it's got all kinds of vehicle data

it shows you warning codes if there's

something wrong with your snowmobile a

brief explanation allows you to track

different things on your sled way more

information than you'd get from a

standard display on the app you can

actually put your snowmobile in the app

on your phone here I've got my chaos

this sled right here loaded on my phone

it'll track all the rides tracks all the

maintenance intervals sends me reminders

when it's time to do something lets me

know any other information I might want

on my snowmobile and it's all right

there on my phone linked to the

snowmobile itself through ride command

now the coolest part is all of this

works without your cell phone we're

there's no cell service up here right a

lot of places we ride snowmobiles

there's no cell service if you have to

bring your phone and have cell service

in order to do mapping and group ride

the display is not really worth a whole

lot on the 7s display with ride command

from Polaris it's fully offline GPS

points of interest and group ride so you

can shut your phone off and the display

will do GPS tracking it'll follow you on

your ride show you way points You've Got

Loaded points of interest and where all

your friends are all day long without

sell service now before you get started

going on your ride when when you're back

at the shop or in the parking lot or

something and you do have sell service

the first thing you do when you get your

new snowmobile is you want to pair your

phone to the sled what that does is it

it connects the two through your Polaris

account which you can get on on the app

um it's a free account to get it's super

easy to do just put your information in

and it links the two what that does is

then any time your your phone and your

display connect so when you get back

from your ride you turn your phone back

on or if you're out on the hill and you

do have service uh anytime they connect

it'll update each other so if uh my

buddy sends me a a waypoint and uh it's

a GPS pin on the the play app this

awesome spot they rode last weekend like

man you guys got to try and get here

today all I do is I I save that location

on my on my Play app on my phone and

then when I fire up my sled if they're

paired that Waypoint will automatically

appear on my display uh all I have to do

is follow it if I want to go check it

out vice versa when you're done with

your ride if you want to share your ride

with somebody else all you do is go into

the display hit export it'll go right to

your phone uh and then it's on the

Polaris app and you can share it with

whoever you'd like if you don't want to

share it with anybody cuz it's your

secret spot you don't have to share it

at all either so the the mapping of GPS

software on the 7s display and uh on the

ride command app on your phone come

pre-loaded with all kinds of points of

interest those points of interest update

we do updates periodically just like any

app on your phone uh they're free to get

from our website and it just downloads

onto your onto your display and you got

the latest points of interest they're

always on there if you want to uh go to

one you just click it um and uh you can

see where it is relative to your

location and follow the trail there

likewise if you get way points or a

secret spot or you get into a really

good spot and you're like man I want to

save this location uh cuz I really like

this spot it's super easy to do you can

save it on the display if you don't have

your phone on or with you or you don't

have service you just save it on the

display then when you get back to the

truck phone and GPS or the display will

pair and it'll download to your phone

one more really cool thing to call out

as as far as GPS and planning your ride

is on the player app on your phone

there's a really cool feature called

Snap to Trail so what it does is it's

it's more focused on Trail Riders but it

works for Mountain Riders too uh you

pick a point that you want to start at

and you pick a point that you want to

finish at it could be a point of

Interest that's that's loaded into the

software like a restaurant a waypoint

that your buddy sent you whatever it may

be you tell the two points you want to

go to and it will automatically route a

trail snap the line to the trail uh to

get you there all you do is then put

that on your display if you're again if

your accounts are linked it does it uh

automatically and then you can follow

that predetermined route on your display

it's as close to turn by turn navigation

as you can get out on the trail uh and

it does it right on the display the next

super cool thing that we'll go through

is group ride and this is my favorite

part like I said and it's just

invaluable when you're out on the snow

group ride is a non cellular

non-satellite it's a nearfield uh style

communication between the displays that

shares their location uh it was

developed by Polaris it's very

proprietary to us and every 7s display

on our snowmobiles comes with a group

ride ready to go it's super easy to use

all you do is you come into your display

uh you go to the map section and then go

to a group ride you can put in your name

it saves your name for for the next time

and if your buddy's already started a

group you just join or you hit the new

group button you start a group and you

hit share then your buddies sitting in

the parking lot can go onto their

display make sure their name is in hit

join your group and you guys are linked

together the core functionality is about

where you are buddy tracking right

seeing where your buddies are out on the

hill or out on the trail the other thing

that the display does is it'll share

messages back and forth so you can do

predetermined messages you can actually

put a couple in uh that are

predetermined and easy click or you can

type something out as well group ride is

like I said invaluable uh when you're

out on the trail knowing that your your

riding partners are behind you you don't

have to wait at every single turn to

make sure everybody comes up and

everybody's there you can get to the

turn glance down at your display yep

he's right behind me just riding a

little further back cuz it's a snow dust

kind of day you take a right turn your

buddy pulls up to that same intersection

sees you went to the right to the right

he goes and Away you go riding you can

cover so much more ground and so much

more confidently you're not always

looking back seeing where your partners

are worried about

them out in the back country it's just

as valuable for a different reason right

you're not necessarily following the

trails out in the back country you're

riding all over riding in different

spots uh and there's a ton of different

elevation changes right Hills valleys

trees things like that seeing where your

buddies are is in valuable when they get

stuck you know where they are uh that

does happen uh you know where they are

you can go lend a hand um and you can

just make sure that your group St

together if you're riding into a new

zone or you're kind of traversing a

ridge or something and somebody uh gets

stuck or has an issue or wants to take a

break whatever it is you can see that

they stopped in your display it's really

NE easy really nice and it's really safe

to know where your riding partners are

the last piece with group ride is for

those that don't have a 7s display you

can do group ride on your phone it

requires sell service on your phone uh

but anybody who has a plis app and

anybody can get the plis app uh they

just have to join the group on their

phone if you're next to the snowmobiles

that uh have the group ride on them you

just hit join on your phone uh and you

can participate in the group ride again

you need sell service in order to do

that where the displays don't need any

Self Service uh but for your buddies

that happen to ride yellow or green

sleds it's a super awesome way to keep

them in your group uh when you do have

service next cool feature on on the

display and how we use it uh is

satellite views and then land owner

views that can overlay on the map so

they do both on the app on the Polaris

app and then if you are Tethered to your

display and you have selfservice uh you

can use the satellite and landowner

overviews on your display now the

satellite view is awesome right you can

see the terrain way better if you want

to plan your next spot to ride uh you

can see more detail make a better plan

and know where you are likewise if

you're in a sticky spot if you're uh you

know stuck out on your Mountain slide or

something you want to make the best path

out the satellite view is super helpful

to have that with land owners there's

really awesome benefits for both the

more trail riding and then off Trail and

Mountain riding on the trail riding

right we're riding trails through a lot

of private land land owners that have

graciously allowed the local Trail Club

access on their land being able to see

exactly where public and private land is

so you know where you can ride in

addition to the trails that are already

on the display is super valuable when we

come out here into the mountains it's

it's a little bit different there's not

a lot of private land but we have

different different types of public land

and you can see that on the display as

well right now we're in the National

Forest which is a a green place of

snowmobile an awesome place of

snowmobile uh where it's allowed right

over there is a Wilderness Area there's

no snowmobiling allowed in the

wilderness areas and we want to respect

that so we can see right on the display

there's the Wilderness boundary and we

know where we can go and ride today now

the last piece we want to talk about

today is when you're done with the ride

so when you're out snowmobile and you're

enjoying it you're having a good time

you're like man that was an awesome ride

snow is epic you get back and your

buddy's like man where'd you guys go

today like well I don't know if I quite

remember I was enjoying the snow didn't

remember exactly and how many times have

you tried to describe the trail or the

spot to it's the the trail that turns

left by the lake by that tree over

there when you're tracking your ride all

day on the 7s you come back syn it to

your phone through the app again if

you're tethered it does it automatically

you have all the data from your ride

right on your phone where you went how

long you were out your average speed

stops you made you can actually see a

aerial topographic fly over of your

route if you want to show somebody else

so it makes planning your trip the next

time that much easier if you want to

share it to the ride command Community

you want to show other people on the

Polaris app hey check out this awesome

spot go ride you certainly can if you

just want to share it with your buddies

you can just send it to them through the

app or a text or something else and if

you don't want to tell anybody where

your secret spots are you can just keep

it on your phone you keep it on just

your app then the next time you want to

go and ride that spot you can set way

points to your favorite spots or just

remember uh where you went any way you

use it it's so valuable to have all of

that information from your ride right

onto your phone and accessible at the

touch of a button so new for 2024 is

this map gauges right here so you tap

that and you'll see these two uh uh

splots down here in the corner that now

come available say over here on the left

I want to see engine Temp and on the

right I want to see RPM I added add

those two I just hit done and now when

I'm riding with the map on I've got that

key information right down here where

it's out of the way but I can see what

it is again if you don't want any of

that information on there you just go

back to map gauges you hit the X hit

done and you get the full screen map

like you had before super cool feature

to get more information at your

fingertips wherever you want to see it

however you want to view it on your 7s

display that was some of the key

features on the 7s display and ride

command software on the display in the

app that we talked about today uh if you

need any how-tos exactly how to do

things like pair your phone or or do the

group ride in more detail check out our

YouTube we have a bunch of how-to videos

for all those different items that that

are super helpful if you need more

information that's all we got for

today's episode of sled Tech we're going

to get back and go riding before the sun

goes down thanks for stopping by and

we'll see you next

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time