Apple is testing more and more autonomous vehicles. When will we finally find out why?

Information appeared in the foreign media that Apple has again significantly expanded its fleet of test vehicles, which are used for the development and testing of yet unspecified autonomous driving systems. Currently, Apple operates 55 such vehicles on California roads.

Apple last year applied for permission to operate a fleet of autonomous vehicles in which it is testing and developing as-yet-unspecified autonomous systems that crystallized out of what was once called Project Titan (aka the Apple Car). Since then, this fleet of test cars has been growing, with the most recent addition occurring in recent weeks. Currently, Apple operates 55 modified vehicles on the roads of Northern California, which are looked after by 83 specially trained drivers/operators.

For these testing purposes, Apple uses Lexus RH450hs, which are equipped with a huge number of sensors, cameras and sensors that produce data for an internal autonomous system that ensures a kind of independence of the vehicle for communication. These vehicles cannot yet drive in fully autonomous mode, as Apple does not yet have sufficient permission to allow this. That is why there is always a driver/operator on board, who monitors everything and is able to react to sudden problems.

However, California recently passed a law that will allow companies to test their autonomous cars in full traffic, without the need for drivers inside. Apple is trying to get this permission and will probably get it in the future. Even after several years of (relatively monitored) development, it is not yet clear what the company intends with this system. Whether it will be a project to which other car companies will be invited over time and will be able to use it as a kind of plug-in for their cars, or it seems to be a purely independent project of Apple, which will be followed by its own hardware. According to Tim Cook's previous statements, this project is one of the most demanding that the company has ever worked on. Especially in terms of using artificial intelligence, machine learning and other similar tools.

Source: Macrumors