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Apple's Automobile Project Said to Include Self-Driving Cars
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Hydrogen Fuelled Autonomous cars ?
Now that would profoundly change the automotive landscape and fit with the whole green power strategy. Are Apple big enough to to do it and do they have the will ? Precious few governments have their resources and focus. Hydrogen fuelled cars
Now that would profoundly change the automotive landscape and fit with the whole green power strategy. Are Apple big enough to to do it and do they have the will ? Precious few governments have their resources and focus. Hydrogen fuelled cars
So I wonder if the car is for collecting data for a "street view" AND a self driving car? Perhaps the car compares images and lidar scan snapshots of the street view map to determine differences in terrain/geography/road for purposes of navigation and safety, while taking its own upgraded scan to crowd source ?
Meanwhile everyone gets continually upgraded maps.
Meanwhile everyone gets continually upgraded maps.
Not so!
The problem is, the existing auto-makers have all of their experience building internal combustion engine powered vehicles, and have shown an utter lack of a clue when it comes to anything digital. (Look how unreliable and generally awful their efforts were to create digital dashboards in the past, and how they're basically incapable of including a really good sounding stereo with the features people want. Look how companies like Chrysler keep recycling head-units with GPS that were designed almost 10 years ago.)
The problem is, the existing auto-makers have all of their experience building internal combustion engine powered vehicles, and have shown an utter lack of a clue when it comes to anything digital. (Look how unreliable and generally awful their efforts were to create digital dashboards in the past, and how they're basically incapable of including a really good sounding stereo with the features people want. Look how companies like Chrysler keep recycling head-units with GPS that were designed almost 10 years ago.)
Wouldn't it make sence to try to develop a personal transportation system that dosen't kill thousands upon thousands of it's users and injure millions more each year or at least lowers the likelihood to a rarity and not an accepted possibility.
Yet you put your life in the hands of a human behide the wheel..?!
Humans are the most dangerous thing about cars.
On another note - since when does macrumors post on the weekend?
Glad you mentioned that - when scrolling past the story and seeing the picture of the van that was my initial thought as well, makes you wonder who started the rumor that Apple is, "developing a car."
I can't really see self-driving cars being any more than a novelty. I love driving and am sure the majority of the population would agree with me. Why don't they make "smart" cars first, ones that automatically communicate with other cars, automatically reports accidents or poor driving conditions, etc. I know "there's an app for that", but the vast majority of drivers don't use them. They should come "baked in".
That, plus Apple can't even manage a flawless iPhone/iOS launch, let alone develop an automatically driving car.
That, plus Apple can't even manage a flawless iPhone/iOS launch, let alone develop an automatically driving car.
Depends on the rules. Do you need two people in the car, or do you need someone sitting in the passenger seat? You can sit in the passenger seat with a self-driving car.
One that can only be driven very slowly around the parking lot.
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IOS or Android driving the car, doesn't give me a warm feeling
Colonel Panic will be your driver for the evening...
I think the vast majority of people would prefer to sit back and watch tv while being driven 90% of the time.
Tesla
Tesla is working on an economical car for the masses, coming in 2017.
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=tesla model 3
Tesla is working on an economical car for the masses, coming in 2017.
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=tesla model 3
Automakers are really good at fabricating parts like body panels and chassis components in volume, and cost effectively. Most of the interior stuff goes to OEM's to design and build to spec. Saving the OEM's was the reason for the GM loan as much as saving GM as the other automakers were completely at risk without OEM production.
Most of the tradition automakers have either hybrids, EV's, or both and battery technology is the missing ingredient to increase range. In the meantime, Tesla has partnered with Panasonic to build a battery production facility just east of Reno. I suspect that this is Elon's offering to Silicon Valley to join him in producing EV's in volume on the West Coast, pitting the traditional manufacturers against the High Techs. I would note the Ford and others are gaining presence in Silicon valley, and the West Coast is a natural market for EV's.
I'm guessing that we will shortly see some of the large midwestern OEM's gaining presence in the inland areas of Northern California to serve the burgeoning EV market, and this will benefit Tesla greatly when it moves into a more affordable offering.
Back on topic, I can't imagine Apple in the EV market unless it goes for volume, and in that, I suspect it would want a manufacturing partner for the chassis and bodywork. Toyota would be my choice as a partner.
Self Driving
It has to be a self driving electric car. Nothing else would make sense. The best hint we have is the mini-van with all the cameras and sensors on it. That would be for self driving features. And if the sensors weren't mission critical, then Apple would never have allowed such an obvious leak to get exposed like that.
And it has to be electric because electric cars are the future. They have innate efficiencies (like avoiding running your car on mini-explosions) that will make internal combustion cars unable to compete in the long run.
It has to be a self driving electric car. Nothing else would make sense. The best hint we have is the mini-van with all the cameras and sensors on it. That would be for self driving features. And if the sensors weren't mission critical, then Apple would never have allowed such an obvious leak to get exposed like that.
And it has to be electric because electric cars are the future. They have innate efficiencies (like avoiding running your car on mini-explosions) that will make internal combustion cars unable to compete in the long run.
I see a lot of wasted space there. Apple could and definitely would make something thinner and lighter.
I think this is the key to understanding what's going on here. This (probably) isn't about Apple someday sellingCars at a dealership in the mall parking lot. Retail isn't the only arena where tech companies compete; they also compete in R&D and patents. (e.g. Google didn't buy Motorola Mobility for its share of the handset market, but to deny its extensive patent portfolio to other companies... or at least profit from licensing it.)
By developing patents in the automotive navigation field, Apple sets up roadblocks that will cost Google money to get around, either by requiring them to reinvent things differently, or by charging them to license Apple's solutions. Some of this might produce technology that can be applied to other products, like the
I hope this is true. Otherwise it shows a remarkable lack of focus for a company that prides itself on its ability to say no to hundreds of projects in favor of the one that they can really impact.
Yes. People make better more informed decisions than cars that drive themselves who only make decisions based on what they are programed to do.
I race cars weekly and have been driving for over 30yrs. Zero accidents to my record.
Besides, maybe when Apple can launch a device with proven ZERO Issues they will have earned my trust. Until then, they've proven they are less than 100%. No thanks, not going to risk it. All things being equal, I'll take less than perfect on a human over less than perfect on a machine.
IOS or Android driving the car, doesn't give me a warm feeling
If you're driving an iOS equipped vehicle, if you have more than 4 tabs open in Safari, the car forgets where it's going, and starts heading back home.
Android cars, for some reason, tend to head for the nearest steep, rocky cliff, and attempt to drive off them.
Winphone cars are only capable of driving to three streets per city, but apparently it drives to those three streets really well. Also it has Office.
This is the future, people. Prepare for it.