Apple’sProject Titancar has long been shrouded in whodunit — most of what we lie with about it come in the form of letters patent that dribble out into the world every few months . The latestpatent , released this morning and in the beginning file in November 2016 , shows Apple at one distributor point think an extendible , fairly inflatable , bumper .
Here ’s how it would play , harmonize to the patent : The bumper houses an inflatable portion , which extends out when inflate . The inflatable panel are fill with pressurized gasolene and are meant to provide “ gentle initial contact in an impact . ” The bumper can then be retracted using a spring mechanism . Meanwhile , a flexible hinge keeps the bumper cover attached to the car .
https://gizmodo.com/freshly-published-patent-keeps-the-dream-of-an-apple-se-1835157612
Look at that sexy extended bumper.Image:USPTO
Why , in Steve Jobs ’ name , would Apple need retractable bumper ? conception is one understanding . Theoretically , you could create a more streamlined design with those minimalist clean edge Apple is so fond of without , perhaps , sacrifice prophylactic . There are some hardheaded use , too . For example , parking . AsApple Insidernotes , it ’d be right smart easier to park in smashed spaces if you could physically make your car smaller by retracting the bumper .
But until Tim Cook decides to get up on stagecoach with a milled display bobbin , this is all just speculation . Project Titan was ab initio thought to be an Apple - brand car , but late developments point Apple ’s more keen on build a self - driving car . Earlier in January , Applelaid off over 200 employeesworking on Project Titan in an attempt to ‘ reconstitute , ’ but a few months later , the Cupertino giant was on the hunt for betterself - driving car sensors . Other recent reports aver Apple is also buildinglarge driving roomsto test ego - driving machine . Let ’s also not forget that within the last twelvemonth , Apple has hired two former Tesla employees , Andrew KimandDoug Field . Plus , it ’s only been a few weeks since the last Project Titan letters patent for a haptic feedback system was made public . Coincidence ? Maybe — but also possibly not .
So yes , it ’s likely Apple is still working on machine technical school . Or was . Whatever . As for what shape it take , we ’ll just have to await and see .
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