Updates on Apple automobile plans

Amid speculation, confidential suggestions and puzzling, noncommittal comments from Apple CEO Tim Cook about strategies to eventually get in the auto industry, the company has gotten what might be its very first vehicle-related patent. And it’s not for a streamlined, 21st century re-imagining of the vehicle.

Instead, judging by images for U.S. Patent 9,409,599, the tech giant is dabbling something of a mashup: an articulated bus or truck riding on tank treads rather wheels. The patent granted on August 9 is for a steering gadget “for an articulated automobile”.

Illustration of a steering gadget “for an articulated vehicle.”

The Cupertino, California-based business submitted for the patent in July 2015, according to the United States Patent Office web page. It reads:

“The present invention relates to a steering device comprising a steering member for mutually steering a first vehicle unit and a second vehicle unit of an articulated vehicle which comprises a link mechanism for mutually pivoting said vehicle units, a housing configuration arranged to form a supply space between said vehicle units and a removal mechanism arranged in the supply space, wherein the removal mechanism comprises a heating device arranged to heat air intended to stream through the housing configuration. The invention also relates to an articulated vehicle with a steering member.”

Apple has not yet made any comment.