Two New Patents Indicate Apple Is Developing Drones

Apple gets two patents for drone development. (photo: doc. unsplash)

JAKARTA – Apple is rumored to be developing several technologies beyond phones and tablets, such as VR headsets and electric cars. But a new patent granted to the US tech giant on Thursday 11 November suggests that Apple may be working on a drone.

About two patents describe a small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) paired with a wireless controller or drone operated via an iPhone or Nintendo DS.

Apple, originally filed this patent in Singapore 'to keep the project confidential,' but has since filed the patent with the US Patent & Trademark Office.

The image in the patent depicts a small drone with four rotors, which is commonly designed for small UAVs.

The patent was first filed in May 2020 in Singapore, but entered the US in February and April and was finally awarded to Apple on November 11, as first reported by Patently Apple.

One patent, entitled 'Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Controller Association', describes the use of a wireless controller to operate Apple's UAVs.

This document covers equipment, systems, and methods for attaching/disconnecting a UAV to/from a UAV controller.

The controller, according to the app, will display at least one antenna to carry out mobile communication with the drone.

The second patent is entitled 'Tracking and Control of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles'. Unlike other apps, this one describes using a smartphone, specifically Apple's iPhone, to control a drone

The UAV will also be designed with a memory type and processing element that will allow it to remember previous tasks sent by the controller.

Even though Apple has been awarded two patents, that doesn't mean the company is developing drones.

Another patent, which was only granted to Apple in May, also describes technology for the iPhone that may also not make it to the market at this point. However, if so, the innovation could display 3D images on a mobile phone without the need for virtual reality and augmented reality headsets.

Called 'Split-screen driving of the display of electronic devices,' the patent proposes to replace 3D images on the flat screen of the iPhone or iPad. The idea is to split the image display for each eye so that the user ends up seeing the 3D graphic on the screen.

Previously, Apple had turned its patents into real-world products, specifically the popular Apple Watch. The app was first submitted in 2009, describing the Watch as demonstrating Apple's first interest in wearables.

An image in the patent application shows several sensors that can be attached to the body and monitor heart rate, blood pressure, stress, and other things.

Over the next few years, the image evolved in various patents until 2014 when Apple submitted the first watch face design with the iconic square shape we see today.