Wednesday, January 24, 2024

"Apple shifts gears on its autonomous car ambitions, delays launch" (AAPL)

Autonomous is hard.

From Interesting Engineering, January 23:

The iPhone-making company reportedly aims to launch its EV by 2028, two years later than its previous target.

Apple's decade-long quest for the ultimate self-driving car has hit a major roadblock, forcing the tech giant to scale back its ambitions and recalibrate its approach. What was once envisioned as a revolutionary vehicle devoid of steering wheels and pedals, boasting a remote command center ready to take over for the driver, has now morphed into something far more grounded: a Tesla-esque electric vehicle with Level 2+ self-driving capabilities.

This dramatic shift, reported by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, marks a pivotal moment for Project Titan, Apple's secretive car endeavor codenamed T172. Since its inception in 2014, the project has endured a tumultuous journey marked by leadership changes, strategic pivots, hiring freezes, layoffs, and relentless delays. Now, it stands at a crossroads, with its existence hanging in the balance.

Scaling back the dream
The most significant change lies in the car's autonomous features. Apple has reportedly downgraded its aspirations from a Level 5 system (full automation) to a Level 4 system (full automation in specific circumstances) and, finally, to a Level 2+ system. This means the car will offer limited self-driving functionalities like lane centering and adaptive cruise control while requiring the driver's full attention....

....MUCH MORE