Let the Apple Car rumors roll on. Apple has been granted a patent (number 1465578) for safety systems for a vehicle.
About the patent
In the patent Apple notes that vehicles include passenger safety systems that control passenger motion and absorb energy during a vehicle event such as a collision, a crash, an evasive maneuver, or other circumstance that causes a sudden abnormal change in acceleration, speed, and/or direction of the vehicle.
Some of these systems are passive, such as safety belts, mechanical components that crush or deform to absorb energy, and spring systems that allow motion of certain components in response to applied forces. Some of these systems are active, such as air bags that deploy to react passenger motion in a controlled manner while absorbing energy. Apple wants all the safety features of its vehicle to be active — with sensors that detect dangerous situations and respond accordingly.
Summary of the patent
Here’s Apple’s abstract of the patent: “A vehicle includes a body structure that defines a passenger cabin, a seat assembly that is located in the passenger cabin, and a table that includes a table top and an adjustable support assembly. The table top is located adjacent to the seat assembly, the adjustable support assembly includes actuators, and the adjustable support assembly is configured to move the table top with respect to the seat assembly.
“The vehicle also includes sensors that are configured to generate sensor outputs regarding an environment outside of the vehicle, and a controller that detects a vehicle event based on the sensor outputs. In response to the detection of the vehicle event, the controller outputs a control signal that controls the adjustable support assembly so that the adjustable support assembly moves at least part of the table top away from the seat assembly.”
When might we see an Apple Car?
On. Nov. 18, 2021, Bloomberg reported that Apple is accelerating development on its “Apple Car.” The article says the electric vehicle will be self-driving and could roll out in 2025.
What’s more, in a note to clients — as noted by AppleInsider — investment bank Wedbush says Apple is likely to announce a strategic electric vehicle partnership in 2022 to lay the groundwork for an “Apple Car” release in 2025.
