Apple patent application applies object recognition and dot projection to autonomous vehicles

A patent application by Apple for a vehicle headlight and display system which uses object recognition to provide better illumination in rainy, foggy, or dark conditions has been published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Patently Apple reports.

The system involves projects dots onto objects, somewhat like Face ID, and may include predicting the location of objects with artificial intelligence, or controlling the lighting contrast of the visual field. Apple also says the system may utilize a Heads-up-Display windshield.

The patent is presumably related to Project Titan, Apple’s rumored smart car in development, and Patently Apple notes that several other patent applications from the company published recently suggest a major effort to integrate augmented reality features into autonomous vehicles.

Inverse reports that an Apple AR headset could reach the market in 2020, and that a previous report by industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts Apple vehicles could reach the market between 2023 and 2025.

Article Topics

Apple  |  automotive biometrics  |  object location  |  patents  |  research and development