The Apple Car project may be canceled, but Apple is still filing for patents for automotive technologies

Apple may have canceled its Apple Car project, but the tech giant is still filing for patents related to automotive technology. The latest (number US 20240078770 A1) is for an “immersive virtual display” for a vehicle.

About the patent filing

It’s possible that the patent filing relates to big plans for the company’s CarPlay technology. Or it’s possible that Apple is still filing patents for technology should it ever revive the Apple Car project.

Either way, the patent filing involves various embodiments of methods and apparatus for providing enhanced virtual reality (VR) and/or mixed reality (MR) experiences for passengers in vehicles. Embodiments of a VR system are described that may implement VR methods, for example to address problems with vehicles in motion that may result in motion sickness for the passengers. 

Embodiments of the VR system may provide immersive VR experiences to passengers in vehicles, for example by replacing the view of the real world with any of various types of virtual experiences and environments that a passenger may desire. Vehicle motions may be integrated into the virtual experiences to help prevent motion sickness.

 In some embodiments, active vehicle systems and/or vehicle control systems within constraints, may be integrated with the VR system to provide physical effects with the virtual experience, for example rushing wind or heat through the HVAC system, surround sound and sound effects through the audio system, and acceleration or motion effects through the seat.

In addition to reducing motion sickness, embodiments of the VR system in the patent filing may provide enhanced immersive virtual experiences to passengers in moving vehicles that are not achievable in conventional stationary VR systems. Integrating the VR system with a vehicle in motion provides opportunities for enhancing virtual experiences that are not available while sitting in a room using a stationary simulator or wearing a HMD. 

For example, accelerations and motions in a virtual experience can be matched to or enhanced by accelerations and motions of the vehicle. This means they don’t have to be simulated using gravity vectors as in a stationary simulator

Summary of the patent filing

Here’s Apple’s abstract of the patent filing: “A VR system for vehicles that may implement methods that address problems with vehicles in motion that may result in motion sickness for passengers. The VR system may provide virtual views that match visual cues with the physical motions that a passenger experiences. 

“The VR system may provide immersive VR experiences by replacing the view of the real world with virtual environments. Active vehicle systems and/or vehicle control systems may be integrated with the VR system to provide physical effects with the virtual experiences. The virtual environments may be altered to accommodate a passenger upon determining that the passenger is prone to or is exhibiting signs of motion sickness.”