Apple Car Patent Prevents Passengers Using VR/AR Headsets From Getting Sick

Over the past months, we have heard reports that Apple is knee-deep, working on a lot of concepts for the Apple Car, also known as the Project Titan. These reports are based on patent filing spotted by various sites. Interestingly, a new set of patents is recently spotted revealing how Apple plans to make sure that Apple Car passengers could Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) headsets inside the vehicle without getting sick.

The first couple of patents called "Relative Inertial Measurement System," details how the inertia detected in the device on the user’s body could be measured and compared to a much bigger inertial force. Although smaller devices used for gesture recognition or motion-sensing depend on measuring inertia, a larger external movement force could offer a significant amount of inertia that could be misread by the device. In the Apple patent, it recommends a system where the inertial measurements of the user’s head sensed by an AR or VR headset sensors can properly work by considering the measure inertia from a vehicle adjusting speed or changing directions.

Apple believes that the difference between the relative motion of the user inside the vehicle observed in a virtual scene could trigger sickness or nausea. The Cupertino tech giant recommends the use of a device paired with a body part that moves with the user, which includes an inertial measurement device. The second inertial measuring device will provide an alternate point of reference, but this time the inertia is produced by the vehicle and not the user.

These two systems could provide a system that could compare the values and identify the inertia produced by the movements of the user. This can then be relayed back into the system utilized to create the AR or VR experience. Another patent titled "Systems With Colored Infrared-Transparent Layers" is more about the aesthetics of the vehicle's design.

It suggests including user-sensing systems and equipment for automated driving of Apple Car by adding several cameras and other items into the mix. This increase could, however, impact the appearance of the vehicle. With a lot of sensor apertures and lenses, the internal of the vehicle could be an eyesore. In other words, Apple is proposing the use of various coatings to create covers and panels for infrared optical equipment capable of letting infrared light pass through while reflecting visible light and hiding the sensors from view.

These Apple Car patents, while interesting, are in no way indicative that these could soon be seen in the revolutionary vehicle. Often, these patents are left as concepts or ideas and do not see commercial release.