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B ] In recent years, autonomous cars are an important topic in the industry. But it's not just established manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Volvo that are interested in such systems, but also technology companies that jump on the train, the car. In addition to Intel and Nvidia, Apple is trying to create a self-powered solution. An FBI investigation reveals more details about Apple's secret project.
Apple Car Ex-Spy Apple
An FBI investigation about a former Apple employee reveals new details about the iPhone group's work on autonomous cars. The US Federal Police's allegations against the man indicate that about 5,000 employees in the group are aware of the project – and have about 2,700 accesses to two confidential databases. The Group is also developing its own chips for its robotic car systems
A former employee arrested
According to the FBI, the Apple employee told the company on returning from the leave Parental in April 2018 that it would be a Chinese electric vehicle. Xiaopeng Motors developer want to change. Apple's security department then found that it had already downloaded large-scale technical documentation. In part, he transferred the data to his wife's notebook. Xiaopeng Motors pointed out on July 11, 2018, that there was no evidence that Apple's information was obtained. The company has since fired the former employee of Apple. According to the documents, the FBI arrested him at the beginning of July at the airport in San Jose, California, while he was preparing to make a last-minute flight to China. He is accused of stealing business secrets.
The best iPhones
Apple Car: Cooperation with Volkswagen
There is also news of cooperation possible: For a long time, Apple has sought a suitable partner for autonomy To achieve the car. After repeated kidnappings of Mercedes-Benz and BMW, it finally seems to have been found: According to a report in the "New York Times", the technology group has signed a contract with Volkswagen. The German company should Apple with T6 type carriers, better known as VW Bus, the offer, which should then get a self-driving system. The idea behind: Apparently, Apple wants to use the vehicles for the transportation of its employees in the premises of the company. Autonomous minibuses are already available in Berlin, where they drive on areas of Charity and on the EUREF campus.
Lexus with a box of Apple sensors popped up
Upgrade instead of buying? In the state of California in March, a self-propelled Lexus with Apple technology on the roof has been spotted (see Tweet below). In the roof structure can hide the entire hardware and software. And maybe that way, "normal" cars can be converted into self-propelled vehicles – without the need to install technology into the car itself. Whether, when and at what price such an Apple box remains uncertain.
Apple's autonomous test fleet grows
In recent months, Apple has apparently expanded its fleet of stand-alone tests: according to the Financial Times, 18 new vehicles added. Overall, Apple now has 45 cars – and leaves the competition behind: The fleet of electric car manufacturer Tesla currently consists of 39 vehicles. Things are very different at Uber: the dealer has once his 29 cars in the garage, after a fatal incident with a self-driving vehicle.
Apple seeks proximity to car rentals
Recently, Apple and Google's sister company, Waymo, have requested support for car rentals for their robotic car projects. Waymo cooperates with Avis: The car rental company manages its fleet of Chrysler minivans converted in the city of Phoenix, Arizona. There, families test autonomous cars in everyday life. Meanwhile, Apple is renting vehicles for its robotic car program in a rival Avis Hertz subsidiary, as reported by Bloomberg in June 2017, citing documents from the California Transport Authority
Avis and Hertz: Car Rental Benefit
The car rental companies, which recently experienced some business problems, jumped after announcing the cooperation of more than 13%. Investors see the potential for broader collaboration in the future in their transactions. Waymo first built 100 vehicles from the Chrysler Pacifica minivan model; 500 more should be added. Avis – with its network of rental stations – is supposed to park cars and wait when they do not travel.
Project Titan: design studies on the Apple car
Apple confirms the development of autonomous cars
While Google's robotic cars are on the road since 2009, Apple has its own The development of autonomous cars a few months ago has been made public. According to the documents of the registration authority, only a few vehicles are en route. As Apple CEO Tim Cook said in an interview with Bloomberg in early June 2017, the audience has already spoken about Apple's focus on "standalone systems". , and "of others, We see this as the mother of all projects around the artificial intelligence."
Apple iCar: years back and forth
It was finally – after years of rumors and several reports of water level -. How the Apple project seems exactly remains vague. The founder of the company, Steve Jobs († 2011) would have thought in 2008 of an Apple car ("iCar"). Since the beginning of 2015, rumors around an iCar have been accumulated. At first, the media reported that the Apple vehicle could be on the roads in 2019. Currently, it does not look like this: Recently, it was more than a market entry in 2021 talk, as reported the online magazine technology "The Information". Meanwhile, according to Bloomberg, up to 1800 Apple employees have been working on the self-driving car – currently, the company is upsetting its efforts on its "Project Titan".
Apple Auto: Late Starter
However, 29 other companies had been faster: Apple was the 30th company to obtain such a license in the most populous US state. The parent company of Google Alphabet, Tesla and well-known automakers such as Volkswagen and Ford have long been allowed for robot testing in California. According to traffic data, Apple received approval in April 2017 for three converted Lexus SUVs. Now the fleet includes a proud 45 vehicles.
These cars drive by themselves
Apple Car: But not of iCar?
In October 2016, Apple sent a five-page letter to the US Department of Transportation related to automated driving. The company admitted to being interested in the subject at least on the software side. Machine learning and automation should also play a role in road traffic. From a software point of view, let's also point out the new Internet addresses that Apple has already secured in early 2016: "apple.car", "apple.cars" and "apple.auto" belong, according to Mac Rumors since the Apple group. (With the material of dpa.)
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