Recent developments in the automotive industry have pointed toward self-driving cars being closer than we might expect. Firms like Alphabet (the parent company of Google) and Apple are leading the way in autonomous car investment.
The latest story involving Apple’s answer to autonomous transport comes in the form of a document obtained by news outlet Business Insider. This document details some of the extensive tests identified by Apple as the next step to seeing its solution in action. The company will use Lexus RX450h models on Californian roads after obtaining permits to hold self-driving tests in the state earlier this month.
The document details the parameters in which Apple’s self-driving car operates, such as collision and obstacle detection through the use of sensors and software systems. As it currently stands, the vehicles will have a manual override which will be forced into action when required. To accommodate this, the tech giant has used some familiar sim racing kit in the Lexus crossovers…
Apple is using what appears to be Logitech G27 hardware for the manual override system in its autonomous vehicle tests. In the event of a driver having to regain control from the system, they will be able to do so by using the G27 wheel and pedal set with which many sim racers will be familiar. The use of such consumer technology is certainly unexpected but it would be perfectly suited to the task thanks to its force feedback features.
We’re unsure if the finished vehicle would make use of wheels like the G27 — it seems incredibly unlikely — but it’s an interesting choice by Apple in the formative stages of creating the “vehicle of the future”. This, combined with the recent news of the McLaren and Logitech hardware collaboration, makes it clear that the gaming peripheral business is more relevant than ever.
[Source: Business Insider, Autoblog]
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