New Information On Apple’s Self-Driving Car Program Has Emerged

New information about Apple’s self-driving car program has emerged via documents obtained from the California DMV by Business Insider. Apple was recently granted a permit to test autonomous vehicles in the state.

Apple has developed an ‘Automated System’ for self-driving vehicles and is planning to put select staffers through a training program to operate the vehicles. The documents obtained by BI include those detailing “Development Platform Specific Training” and a self-driving car system called “Apple Automated System.”

Apple is using three Lexus RX450h SUVs for testing. Each is equipped with a Logitech wheel and pedals to actuate drive by wire. During safety testing, drivers need to be ready to take control of the vehicle at any time.

“The development platform is capable of sending electronic commands for steering, accelerating, and decelerating and may carry out portions of the dynamic driving task,” an Apple official wrote.

Apple drivers need to pass seven tests before they are qualified to operate the vehicle in self-driving mode. Each driver gets two practice runs and three trials to pass each test.

Pressing the brake pedal or grabbing the steering wheel in Apple’s test vehicles will disengage the electronic driving mode, but drivers can accelerate without overriding the “drive by wire” mode.

Check out the images below for more details.

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