The patent shows how self-driving cars can learn changes to routes over time. A new patent application from Apple appears to be the company’s first publicly available peek into its self-driving car research.
The patent shows how Apple is thinking about autonomous vehicle navigation.
It also shows how Apple is thinking about a user interface for self-driving cars.
Apple published what appears to be its first publicly available patent application for self-driving car technology on Thursday.
The patent, which was first picked up by Patently Apple, involves navigation systems for autonomous vehicles. In particular, it addresses how vehicles can learn changes to routes as environments change due to construction, weather, and other factors.
But the most interesting part of the application gives a hint at a potential user interface for self-driving cars running Apple software. The diagrams show a mapping screen that gives the driver an option to select an alternative route or switch from manual to autonomous mode.
Tech: Apple just gave us the first hint at how it envisions the user interface in a self-driving car (AAPL)
