The future is here: Apple received a permit to test their first self-driving car and did. Although Tesla, Alphabet, Google, Uber, and a number of start up companies are also looking into the concept, Apple was the first to ever put a self-driving car on the streets. The vehicle was spotted last Friday in Silicon Valley.
The tinkered Lexus RX450h SUV was in an early stage, as cameras and sensors were simply attached to the outside, but it’s a first step toward a different future in driving. It is important to note that the sensors were not Apple-made and that the Lexus’ status was a group effort. The sensors were made by Velodyne.
Known as “autonomous-car technology,” the sensors help the car to “see” what is around it and make decisions according to what the sensors receive. All the gadgets on the outside definitely make the car stand out. A series of Twitter users spread news of spotting the car, as it undeniably draws attention.
Apple’s road (pun intended) to the self-driving car has been dubbed “Project Titan.” Steve Wozniak, one of the Apple founders, had a lot to say about the car. He hopes to be able to market the technology to the everyday person. The end goal for him is to safely have no steering wheel in the car. He thinks “Apple is the company that could do that and disrupt all the others.” To him, it is a race to the finish.
Overall, Apple has stated interest in automated machines, whether it be transportation or other ventures. They have remained largely silent on the issue until now, keeping “Project Titan” under wrap.
California has granted more than 30 permits to companies for self-driving cars, however, so perhaps we will be seeing more soon. Many companies view autonomous cars as the natural next step in the automotive field.
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