Apple may have abandoned plans for an “Apple Car,” but the tech giant is still filing for, and being granted, patents regarding automobiles. The latest granted patent (US 12054028 B) is for “Motion Control Systems” for an automobile.
About the patent
Per the patent, a motion control system may include a number of different types of components, such as dampers, springs, and bushings. The components may be passive or active. Passive components are mechanical devices that react to forces applied to them, typically by controlling the rate of movement away from a neutral position and then causing the system to return to the neutral position.
Active components are controlled systems that apply forces based on observed states, such as measured acceleration values. For example, active components may be actuated based in part on relative acceleration measurements that measure acceleration of the sprung mass relative to the unsprung mass.
Summary of the patent
Here’s Apple’s abstract of the patent: “A system that a crossbar that is pivotally connected to a first structure and is pivotally connected to a second structure. The system also includes a first actuator that is located near the first structure and is connected to the crossbar. The system also includes a second actuator that is located near the second structure and is connected to the crossbar.”
