New Video Offers Up Close View Of Apple's Project Titan Vehicles, Top Has Got A Lot Thing Going On

MacCallister Higgins, the co-founder of autonomous taxi company Voyage recent shared a tweet about Apple’s Project Titan vehicles. His tweet also shows updated test hardware for Apple's self-driving car platform, suggesting that the company is making some progress. Then he breaks down what is unique about Apple’s approach, which may also be hinting at the possibility for Apple to offer an autonomous vehicle aftermarket add-on.

Tidbits from this up-close look at Apple’s Project Titan setup include that both front and back feature 6 LiDARS and also that having the radar array on the roof is interesting. A Twitter user said he snapped a photo of the same hardware "a few weeks ago" when a car pulled up to an Apple shuttle stop, waited, then continued on.

Going to need more than 140 characters to go over 🍎's Project Titan. I call it "The Thing" pic.twitter.com/sLDJd7iYSa

— MacCallister Higgins (@macjshiggins) October 17, 2017

According to The Verge, Higgins speculated that Apple's computing hardware is likely situated on the roof of the cars —unlike other companies' self-driving vehicles, which normally move that equipment into the trunk. While TechCrunch points out, having a rooftop contained array makes it easy for Apple to switch test vehicles, but there's also a possibility of working towards offering an aftermarket modular add-on product.

The benefit of this design might be that it’s relatively plug-and-play, requiring very little in the way of in-vehicle modifications, beyond bolting the roof rack to the vehicle. That would also make it easy to switch test cars theoretically in the future, and it could have an impact product-wise in terms of gearing towards modularity in design so that this can be adapted to many purposes and vehicles as an aftermarket add-on.

Apple has been largely quiet on its self-driving efforts, apart from confirming that it is doing research and development. Its hand was likely tipped by the need to drive on public roads. This's an interesting update as the latest Project Titan news pointed towards Apple focusing less on hardware and more on a carOS of sorts, along with its PAIL program.

Via 9to5Mac And AppleInsider, Image Credit TechCrunch