2019 iPhones to Include New 'R1' Sensor Coprocessor Codenamed 'Rose'

[MacRumors]

Apple is planning to add a new coprocessor, codenamed both "Rose" and "R1," to the A13 series chips in its upcoming iPhones set to debut on Tuesday. It is not clear if Apple will use the internal Rose and R1 codenames for marketing purposes or if it will match the A-series chip numbering scheme and release the first Rose coprocessor as R13.

Based on evidence from an internal build of iOS 13, the first iteration of the Rose coprocessor, the R1 (t2006), is similar to Apple's M-series motion coprocessor in that it helps inform iOS about where the iPhone is located in space and where it is headed by offloading the processing of that sensor data from the main system processor.

Where the R1 differs is that it integrates many more sensors than the motion coprocessor in order to produce a much more accurate picture of where the device is. The motion coprocessor currently integrates data from the compass, gyroscope, accelerometer, barometer, and microphones.

The Rose coprocessor will add support for an inertial measurement unit (IMU), Bluetooth 5.1 features, ultra-wideband (UWB) and camera (including motion capture and optical tracking) sensor data to not only tell where the device is but also fuse this sensor data together to find lost Apple Tags and aid in the processing of People Occlusion from ARKit. Given the overlap in sensor data collection and processing the Rose coprocessor may replace the M-series motion coprocessor.

The Angle of Arrival (AoA) and Angle of Departure (AoD) features of Bluetooth 5.1 enable Bluetooth direction-finding, and combining these with other sensor data by the R1 will aid in finding Apple Tags with high resolution. The 2018 iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR all have Bluetooth 5.0.

Twitter user Longhorn contributed to this report.

Article Link: 2019 iPhones to Include New 'R1' Sensor Coprocessor Codenamed 'Rose'

 

[Bawstun]

Something that maybe 0.0005% of people will care about after 5 years of heavy marketing.

 

[GadgetBen]

And some people were arguing that the Apple tracking device wasn’t going to be innovation. Just another Tile.

 

[Eduardo1971]

All will fully be known tomorrow, looking forward to seeing what will announced.

 

[Preed08]

Sounds pretty interesting...

 

[ersan191]

Boi if they don't make Apple Tags compatible with old iPhones, even gimped, I am gonna be salty.

 

[Bawstun]

Now find all of your Pokémon, with high-level accuracy data!

 

[M.PaulCezanne]

Microphones?

 

[jonnyb]

"Apple is planning?" I'm hoping they've finished with the planning by now. They're released next week.

 

[Mr. Awesome]

Something that maybe 0.0005% of people will care about after 5 years of heavy marketing.

The point isn’t that the processor exists, it’s what Apple will do with it. (Supposed AR Apple Tag finding, etc.)

 

[44267547]

Something that maybe 0.0005% of people will care about after 5 years of heavy marketing.

If this rumor proves true, Apple won’t ‘heavy market’ it aside from the keynote. But it’s interesting enough show us ‘techies’ the advances made alongside the A13 and how it correlates to other products. Some of us do care.

 

[Khedron]

And some people were arguing that the Apple tracking device wasn’t going to be innovation. Just another Tile.

This is Bluetooth innovation, not Apple's. All Apple does is wrap the standards up in some proprietary interface.

 

[Saipher]

Where the R1 differs is that it integrates many more sensors than the motion coprocessor in order to produce a much more accurate picture of where the device is.

Interesting. Assuming Apple does release AR glasses in the near future, and assuming it will be tethered to the iPhone, the R1 might be tasked to handle such spatial “awareness”.

Apple glasses confirmed?...

Edit: a word

 

[BootsWalking]

This may not be the most exciting, flashy chip consumers would immediately understand or appreciate but it will nevertheless contribute heavily to the iPhone's experience and features.

 

[JosephAW]

As long as the net result is longer battery life.

 

[rosegoldoli]

my heart jumped i thought they were bringing back rose gold

 

[MX20]

The rose co-coprocessor is going to calculate how many times the user breathe within a minute.

 

[44267547]

As long as the net result is longer battery life.

That’s probably a side-effect to the R1, but I would guess more stability with the battery management than just promote ‘longer’ battery life.

 

[Costino1]

Code name Rose. Hmm. Hope it’s big enough to support the iPhone’s processing power. Maybe there will be room for a {headphone} Jack now to fit.

 

[Bawstun]

If this rumor proves true, Apple won’t ‘heavy market’ it aside from the keynote. But it’s interesting enough show us ‘techies’ the advances made alongside the A13 and how it correlates to other products. Some of us do care.

Yes, 0.00005% of you. The same percentage that cared about 3D Touch and why Apple is dropping it to save money on hardware costs and going with a longpress haptic touch instead. This isn’t a feature very many people are ever going to find useful. The normal person just doesn’t have a use for this advanced tech. I understand the idea of how it could be used and what apps might be created and such, but I don’t think that’ll ever catch on. It’s meh.

 

[squizzler]

Security services will love this feature.

 

[Khedron]

Interesting. Assuming Apple does release AR glasses in the near future, and assuming it will be tethered to the iPhone, the R1 might be tasked to handle such spacial “awareness”.

Apple glasses confirmed?...

If the new watch has R1 then the glasses are confirmed and the watch will be used to help interaction with AR objects

Pro users will dual-wield with two Apple Watches

AR is going to be expensive...

 

[kevinbeared]

The rose co-coprocessor is going to calculate how many times the user breathe within a minute.

To determine precisely the maximum amount apple can charge their customers without annoying them

 

[chrisdazzo]

Let's not pretend these rumored "Tiles" are going to be the "One more thing..." announcement, folks. Recall the last couple products in these types of announcements were the iPhone X and Apple Watch - not a silly product like an item finder.

 

[ugcop]

It all just means that from now on, in addition to listening to you and tracking you the camera will be watching and mapping the inside of your house. Defeat it with black electrical tape over the lens and tinfoil hat on your head.