Apple and autonomous driving are a "thorny" pair . There are several references, even official , regarding the possibility of developing a self-driving vehicle in the future of the Cupertino company. But the details of the plans are still smoky and not without difficulties .
According to Reuters, however, plans are progressing so much that Apple is negotiating with four other brands to provide sensors for use in a LIDAR . The latter is a fundamental element for creating truly functional and safer vehicles that are integrated into many experimental models (such as Google's).
The news, however, also suggests that Apple is thinking of developing a LIDAR "at home" and therefore not relying on external producers. It seems that the company is intent on making (or buying) smaller, cheaper LIDARs (currently up to $ 100,000 per unit) for its autonomous driving cars and easy to make, thus reducing the costs of this technology. Currently the LIDARs used by Apple are from Velodyne but in the future one or more components could carry the mark of the bitten apple.
Recall that LIDAR technology , an acronym for Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging , similar to a RADAR, allows a three-dimensional reconstruction of the surrounding environment.
Everything is based on laser beams that "scan" what is found around the vehicle, detecting obstacles and thus joining the cameras and other sensors. they use pulses of laser light to make accurate images of the environment around the car.
The technology currently used on self-driving cars as well as being expensive is difficult to achieve in series in volumes as well as being particularly cumbersome (and Apple could focus on a new design , according to the sources).
Again as reported by Reuters, it is not yet clear whether Apple with Project Titan will intend to sell combinations of hardware / software to third parties or whether it will aim to achieve the entire production chain of the automobile.
It is not a small difference since the investments (both by type and quantity) are very different in one or the other case. However, this is a plan that will develop over the years and it is unlikely that we will soon see any truly appreciable results (apart from the prototype testing phase).
