Mysterious Apple minivans are mapping vehicles, experts say

Cult of Mac ^ | 11:27 am PDT, Feb 20, 2015 | Leander Kahney

[Swordmaker]

The mysterious vehicles that Apple is driving all over with gadgets on top are not autonomous self-driving prototypes, but according to experts are MAPPING vehicles, photographing street views, perhaps in 3D for a future upgrade to Apple Maps! — PING!

Mysterious Apple Vehicles Ping!

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[Star Traveler]

Apple does something ... and then the press is guessing what is going on for the next year ... :-) ...

[South40]

I saw one of these yesterday on Friday in San Diego. I’ve seen Google’s vehicles before so I was sure it wasn’t one of those.

[dennisw]

I saw one a few days ago. I figured it was google or something else. But there was no 8ft high pole camera on the van...don’t the google maps vans have that?

Got a better photo of this Apple van? From what’s shown here I saw one coming out of a condominium complex

[Swordmaker]

Got a better photo of this Apple van? From what’s shown here I saw one coming out of a condominium complex

Apple Mapping Van or Apple Autonomous self-driving Vehicle?

[dennisw]

Mysterious Apple minivans are mapping vehicles, experts say

adding that LIDAR mapping is becoming increasingly popular for a range of activities, from road maintenance to asset management. Godsmark said the giveaway on the mysterious Apple vans is the placement and …cultofmac.com · 1 day ago

One of the mysterious Apple vans is driving around Hawaii now

it's unlikely that Apple employees would so brazenly drive around in vans registered to the company adorned in experimental technology. The more likely explanation is that they're part of a push to develop street-level …The Business Insider · 1 day ago

High-res photos reveal mysterious Apple van's equipment package

... Apple is working to expand its in-house mapping technology with street level imaging. The first of Apple's vans were first spotted in the San Francisco Bay Area earlier this month, with subsequent sightings in New …Apple Insider · ByMikey Campbell · 2/19/2015

[Swordmaker]

I saw one a few days ago. I figured it was google or something else. But there was no 8ft high pole camera on the van...don’t the google maps vans have that?

Not quite 8 feet. . . more like about four feet above the car:

Google Mapping and Street View Vehicle

Might be a total of 8 feet counting the Subaru car.

[dennisw]

Thanks////What I saw had the same white rack mounted up on top. The van was a small one like you show but was white, not grey

[Swordmaker]

Autonomous self driving vehicles are only licensed in four states. . . and Washington DC, and Hawaii is not one of them. These cars have been spotted in New York City, Chicago, and several other National Parks. . . which would give credence to the mapping and street level arguments. . . and the 3D plans. It would also give Apple a leg up on more accurate representation on its FlyOver views in 3D, gaining accurate data on ground views and building data.

[Swordmaker]

Thanks////What I saw had the same white rack mounted up on top. The van was a small one like you show but was white, not grey

There appear to be a fleet of them. . . also adding to the mapping argument.

[dennisw]

I am guessing that four ft camera pole on google maps street view van is passe now. That now it can be done the way Apple is doing it. Now it is less obtrusive, noticeable. I had no idea this LIDAR mapping technology was being used so widely these days by real estate firms etc etc

[cynwoody]

Not quite 8 feet. . . more like about four feet above the car:

Any reasonably heavy user of Google Street View has seen the shadow of that many times.

[cynwoody]

https://www.google.com/search?safe=off&espv=2&biw=1042&bih=1485&tbm=isch&source=lnms&sa=X#safe=off&tbm=isch&q=shadow+of+google+street+view

[dennisw]

Autonomous self driving vehicles are only licensed in four states......

They are a zero so far....They are for the future

[dennisw]

All self-respecting Apple fanbois and fandudes are going to want one of those low slung mini-vans after Apple disposes with them after 10,000 miles. Now is the time to make inquiries. I have family that would love one. Please let me know if you try to get one and the best way to do it. I am serious!

[RayChuang88]

I think they're not only for something like Google's Street View mapping, but also to test technologies for autonomous operation of a vehicle. The reason why they're using a minivan is that the current state of hardware design requires such a big vehicle; improved technology will reduce the hardware needed to something far smaller, fitted to a vehicle like a BMW 2-Series Active Tourer (imagine this vehicle with with extra sensors on board):

[PIF]

Rob Enderle? At CBS? No wonder everybody is confused. The whole thing is just another Enderle hit/setup piece on Apple.

[MeshugeMikey]

my first perception of said vehicle was that its roof mounted apparatus..had a striking similarity to the equipment Id seen on the Google Mobiles .

[ProtectOurFreedom]

If you work or live near Google, it’s a common experience to see their mapping and driverless cars. All of the driverless cars are plainly marked as such in huge letters on the side— probably a legal requirement so you know what ran you off the road.