Released Patent Showcases Apple’s Technology for Autonomous Vehicles

Autonomous cars are currently the most probable vehicle outcome of the future and numerous companies are trying to be a part of this self-driving cars race.

Now, Apple, most typically associated with iPhones and MacBook devices has also been working on its self-driving car technology. However, the company has been particularly keeping quiet about this fact until now, as patented elements of the vehicles have been spotted online.

Apple’s Attempt to Autonomous Cars

Apple is intending to develop an autonomous car technology that allows commands to be voiced or expressed through gestures and touch. The company’s patent released last week depicts a model of a self-driving automobile that is completely integrated and managed via interactions.

The patent showcases the way such a system would function with an autonomous vehicle: there are three different methods a passenger would be able to interact with the self-driving car in the released information, namely, touch, gestures and voice. The interaction system is similar to what Apple provides users on its devices.

Apple’s Controls For Autonomous Cars

The patent mentions that varied voice commands can perform different trips to whatever place the owner wants to go, such as a command like ‘I’d like some coffee,’ would take the user to the nearest cafe place. A more detailed one, such as ‘Take me to the coffee shop on Main Street’ will take the owner to the mentioned place.

When it comes to gesture controls, the user will need a smartphone. For instance, when wanting the car to park, the user could perform a ‘park over there’ gesture, which will have the vehicle analyze the spot and move accordingly. This system, though, asks for a lot of processing and machine learning for precise results.

The Apple self-driven car technology would also offer the possibility of using a touchscreen interface with the iOS, which the patent depicts as a basic touch interface. The touch and gesture interface would come with predictive functionalities to let the vehicle know which in direction it should head.

The report is, however, just a rumor until officially confirmed by Apple, that’s why it is best to be taken with a pinch of salt.