Although Apple hasn’t provided any details about its widely rumored vehicle, a new patent filing suggests that the tech company is cooking something interesting for the motoring world.
According to the BBC, Apple applied for a new patent titled “Accessing Vehicles Using Portable Devices”. In other words, the Cupertino-based company wants to replace the old-fashioned key (and its functions) with an iPhone/iPad which unlocks, locks and starts a car wirelessly, via Bluetooth.
“For example, a vehicle-related operation can be an operation to unlock a vehicle’s doors, unlock a vehicle’s storage compartment, start a vehicle’s engine, activate a vehicle’s audio or audiovisual entertainment system, activate a vehicle’s global positioning system (GPS), activate a vehicle’s dashboard console, turn on a vehicle’s passenger compartment lights, adjust a vehicle’s seats, turn on a vehicle’s headlights, open a vehicle’s sun roof, turn on a vehicle’s windshield wipers, activate a vehicle’s automatic parking system, activate a vehicle’s wireless communication system, and/or the like”, reads the patent description.
But the most interesting bit of this technology is that a potential owner could temporarily grant access to a secondary mobile device. This will allow other individuals full access to the car, but it also raises questions regarding its implementation and safety.
This type of connected communication between cars and portable gizmos isn’t a new concept, and as we all know, some cars equipped with modern tech are susceptible to hacking. Apple’s idea, albeit convenient and engaging, could open the pathway to a new type of car-hacking.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, as Apple’s reason to patent the tech remains a mystery (for now). It’s unknown if the tech will ever find its way into consumer cars, or was specifically designed for use in a possible “iCar”. Either way, its clear that Apple is interested in cars, and that technology will continuously revolutionize the automotive industry.
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