Have you seen one, mstone? Sounds as though they've been in your neck of the woods.
I did see one in Southern California, where I am now, not in Panama. I'm not sure who saw it in Panama, although I know we have at least one other Panama forum poster. The van would likely be in Ciudad Panamá where all the skyscrapers are. I live hundreds of kilometers from there up in the mountains near the Barú volcano. That is where the coffee farms are. I doubt they would make mapping that region a priority although it would be nice because Apple Maps in that area is total crap..
The mountains sound more like my kind of place, especially with coffee farms.
At least scenic places are pleasant to get lost in. Venice is a great place for that.
If you look at the one in the video in this article it has a spinning laser on the front and the rear and there both <span style="font-size:13px;line-height:1.4em;">spinning. So I would think that is is a precision mapping vehicle.</span>
I was just wondering about the spinning thing. Seems like a 3D thing.
I was just wondering about the spinning thing. Seems like a 3D thing.
The spinning sensors on the Apple van are different than those of the vertically-mounted ones on the Google vehicles.
The Apple ones are angled downward, as if to focus on the spaces in front and behind the vehicle. A mapping vehicle shouldn't really care much about that, more focused on capturing the scenery around the vehicle.
It is in the interest of the DMV to release such information to a media outlet because of the nature of the odd vehicle modifications. These are vehicles with strange modifications, so it is a public service that the information stating that the vehicles were leased by a publicly traded company (and not Al-Qaida).
Presumably, the news media can ask these questions in the interest of public knowledge.
But hey, I'm just some random guy commenting on a rumor site. Go ask the DMV why they divulged the information to KPIX.
That makes some sense. But they could simply say "We have authorized certain vehicles with special equipment to be used on the roads - the license you provided is one of those vehicles. You have nothing to worry about" without giving away any information about who owns the vehicle.
That makes some sense. But they could simply say "We have authorized certain vehicles with special equipment to be used on the roads - the license you provided is one of those vehicles. You have nothing to worry about" without giving away any information about who owns the vehicle.
Automobile registration information can be obtained from police and the California DMV by people who have a private investigators license.
That makes some sense. But they could simply say "We have authorized certain vehicles with special equipment to be used on the roads - the license you provided is one of those vehicles. You have nothing to worry about" without giving away any information about who owns the vehicle.
But it's more convincing to say that the vehicle is leased by ____ rather than some "anonymous" user.
It looks like Apple didn't even bother to set up a shell company to hide their identity. They probably knew it would be divulged at some point, or that they were on a short list of possible companies and would have been suspected anyhow.
Anyone notice the driver working with something he is apparently wearing on his head? He notices the camera then quickly stops adjusting it. Maybe some kind of heads-up display, similar to Google glass. While Glass was rolled out horribly from Google, the technology of augmented reality is interesting. Wonder what Apple is up to.
If they're making a self-driving car, you'd think they'd pick a less rubbish car. This is for Maps.
I don't think you can reasonably sell any self driving car with all that crap on the roof. They are using these "rubbish" vans because, for now, they need roof racks and storage space.
It is in the interest of the DMV to release such information to a media outlet because of the nature of the odd vehicle modifications. These are vehicles with strange modifications, so it is a public service that the information stating that the vehicles were leased by a publicly traded company (and not Al-Qaida).
Presumably, the news media can ask these questions in the interest of public knowledge.
But hey, I'm just some random guy commenting on a rumor site. Go ask the DMV why they divulged the information to KPIX.
Any cop can query DMV registration. I assume one is also an Apple fan or the friend of one. Word gets out.
Not a fan of these paparazzi assholes stalking these vehicles. Let people do their jobs in peace without shoving a video camera up their asses. Anything for clicks I guess.
I had the stereo on really loud, singing along on Nob Hill Rd into Tamarac, when I noticed this van in my rear view mirror a ways back while I was stopped at a traffic light.
Because of Apple Insider and similar sites, I had been reading about the Apple car efforts and knew from the posted pictures sort of what the vans looked like.
They slowly approached the intersection when I became fairly certain it wasn't a Bing or Google vehicle. I was ready with my iPhone once they pulled up next to me.
The passengers in the van knew I was filming them.. they made their left turn and slowed down to a full stop. They hesitated going forward and pulled off onto a small side road.
My video isn't too much longer than what you see here. I should have been more discrete, perhaps, and sleuthed some more. It is Florida so I thought it better to just keep rolling on.
Panama City has only a tenth the population of LA county but I think they might have double the amount of high rise floor space. Of course only about a third of it is actually occupied. A lot of laundered drug money built those skyscrapers, although there are also some legitimate buildings like Trump towers (center with the curved sail like shape), that is if you consider casino money as legitimate. Unfortunately the entire city is serviced with a water, power and and sewage system built in the 40s by the Army Corp of Engineers so it is vastly under capacity for the size of the city.
Of course it's legitimate. If Trump and others didn't provide the casinos how else could enough drug money get laundered? If not for the casinos the vacancy rate would have to be closer to 95%! ;-)
That makes some sense. But they could simply say "We have authorized certain vehicles with special equipment to be used on the roads - the license you provided is one of those vehicles. You have nothing to worry about" without giving away any information about who owns the vehicle.
My guess:
It's not really personal information so there's no compelling reason for it to be confidential. Apple isn't a person (even if it is a corporation). It's not as if it's likely information on the vehicle will endanger anyone's privacy. i.e. This isn't a wife-beater tracking down his estranged spouse. So in this case the sunshine principal seems appropriate. Publicly collected information should be publicly accessible (as long as it isn't personal.)
Velodyne also has a new 16 laser head that works great on small UAVs nicknamed "The Puck". They are a pretty cool company having a line of fantastic audio components including some of the best subwoofers in the market. Their founder is a brilliant man who is constantly working on innovative technologies including a boat that can absorb 6 foot waves.
Other companies that successfully implemented Velodyne LiDAR heads for mobile mapping, Mandli Communications, Nokia/Here, Google, Facet-Tech, Topcon, and Microsoft.
1) Based on [@]Geospatial[/@]'s informative post, the rumored issues last year with Maps resulting in no updated for Maps in iOS 8/Yosemite, as well as numerous spotting of many vehicles in many states, as well as outside the country, this seems like it's pretty much a shoe-in to bet on being Street View for Apple Maps with a FlyOver look and feel to the images and flow.
2) How many km/miles of roads are there to map? How many vehicles would Apple need to cover them all in [I]y[/I]-amount of time? Or, rather, cover the most commonly used [I]x[/I]% in [I]y[/I]-amount of time? (I understand the first question can be answered, but with a large variance depending on the definition of "road", and the second one being very tough because of stopping, traffic, detours, speed limits, potential of having to go back the opposite way if the road is too wide, etc. I'm just throwing it out there to see what the brilliant minds of this forum will think of when presented with such a question)
How many km/miles of roads are there to map? How many vehicles would Apple need to cover them all in y-amount of time?
I think the rule of thumb is that Google refreshes their street view approximately every three years. My experience correlates with this looking at my own house. Assuming that Apple deploys an equal amount of resources, they will only be a couple years behind at first and then they will be able to narrow the gap. People say that Google has a huge head start but if everyone has to start over every three years that means that any company with sufficient financial resources can catch up to the leader in less than three years.
Comments
Have you seen one, mstone? Sounds as though they've been in your neck of the woods.
I did see one in Southern California, where I am now, not in Panama. I'm not sure who saw it in Panama, although I know we have at least one other Panama forum poster. The van would likely be in Ciudad Panamá where all the skyscrapers are. I live hundreds of kilometers from there up in the mountains near the Barú volcano. That is where the coffee farms are. I doubt they would make mapping that region a priority although it would be nice because Apple Maps in that area is total crap..
The mountains sound more like my kind of place, especially with coffee farms.
At least scenic places are pleasant to get lost in. Venice is a great place for that.
I was just wondering about the spinning thing. Seems like a 3D thing.
The spinning sensors on the Apple van are different than those of the vertically-mounted ones on the Google vehicles.
The Apple ones are angled downward, as if to focus on the spaces in front and behind the vehicle. A mapping vehicle shouldn't really care much about that, more focused on capturing the scenery around the vehicle.
Curious.
It is in the interest of the DMV to release such information to a media outlet because of the nature of the odd vehicle modifications. These are vehicles with strange modifications, so it is a public service that the information stating that the vehicles were leased by a publicly traded company (and not Al-Qaida).
Presumably, the news media can ask these questions in the interest of public knowledge.
But hey, I'm just some random guy commenting on a rumor site. Go ask the DMV why they divulged the information to KPIX.
That makes some sense. But they could simply say "We have authorized certain vehicles with special equipment to be used on the roads - the license you provided is one of those vehicles. You have nothing to worry about" without giving away any information about who owns the vehicle.
Automobile registration information can be obtained from police and the California DMV by people who have a private investigators license.
That makes some sense. But they could simply say "We have authorized certain vehicles with special equipment to be used on the roads - the license you provided is one of those vehicles. You have nothing to worry about" without giving away any information about who owns the vehicle.
But it's more convincing to say that the vehicle is leased by ____ rather than some "anonymous" user.
It looks like Apple didn't even bother to set up a shell company to hide their identity. They probably knew it would be divulged at some point, or that they were on a short list of possible companies and would have been suspected anyhow.
Nobody outside of the Midwest would by one in their right mind.
If they're making a self-driving car, you'd think they'd pick a less rubbish car. This is for Maps.
You'd think they'd pick a Toyota Echo
Anyone notice the driver working with something he is apparently wearing on his head? He notices the camera then quickly stops adjusting it. Maybe some kind of heads-up display, similar to Google glass. While Glass was rolled out horribly from Google, the technology of augmented reality is interesting. Wonder what Apple is up to.
Nobody outside of the Midwest would by one in their right mind.
That's why they're leased.
If they're making a self-driving car, you'd think they'd pick a less rubbish car. This is for Maps.
I don't think you can reasonably sell any self driving car with all that crap on the roof. They are using these "rubbish" vans because, for now, they need roof racks and storage space.
Because of Apple Insider and similar sites, I had been reading about the Apple car efforts and knew from the posted pictures sort of what the vans looked like.
They slowly approached the intersection when I became fairly certain it wasn't a Bing or Google vehicle. I was ready with my iPhone once they pulled up next to me.
The passengers in the van knew I was filming them.. they made their left turn and slowed down to a full stop. They hesitated going forward and pulled off onto a small side road.
My video isn't too much longer than what you see here. I should have been more discrete, perhaps, and sleuthed some more. It is Florida so I thought it better to just keep rolling on.
Panama City has only a tenth the population of LA county but I think they might have double the amount of high rise floor space. Of course only about a third of it is actually occupied. A lot of laundered drug money built those skyscrapers, although there are also some legitimate buildings like Trump towers (center with the curved sail like shape), that is if you consider casino money as legitimate. Unfortunately the entire city is serviced with a water, power and and sewage system built in the 40s by the Army Corp of Engineers so it is vastly under capacity for the size of the city.
Of course it's legitimate. If Trump and others didn't provide the casinos how else could enough drug money get laundered? If not for the casinos the vacancy rate would have to be closer to 95%! ;-)
That makes some sense. But they could simply say "We have authorized certain vehicles with special equipment to be used on the roads - the license you provided is one of those vehicles. You have nothing to worry about" without giving away any information about who owns the vehicle.
My guess:
It's not really personal information so there's no compelling reason for it to be confidential. Apple isn't a person (even if it is a corporation). It's not as if it's likely information on the vehicle will endanger anyone's privacy. i.e. This isn't a wife-beater tracking down his estranged spouse. So in this case the sunshine principal seems appropriate. Publicly collected information should be publicly accessible (as long as it isn't personal.)
It's a mapping vehicle using two Velodyne HDL-32s on the front and back. Each head has 32 lasers spread over 40 degree field of view.
http://velodynelidar.com/lidar/hdldownloads/HDL-32E_datasheet.pdf
Google uses the older HDL-64 for it's autonomous cars. It has 64 lasers over a 26 degree spread.
http://velodynelidar.com/lidar/products/brochure/HDL-64E Data Sheet.pdf
Velodyne also has a new 16 laser head that works great on small UAVs nicknamed "The Puck". They are a pretty cool company having a line of fantastic audio components including some of the best subwoofers in the market. Their founder is a brilliant man who is constantly working on innovative technologies including a boat that can absorb 6 foot waves.
http://www.popsci.com/article/cars/inventor-rigs-unprecedentedly-smooth-ride-power-boats
Other companies that successfully implemented Velodyne LiDAR heads for mobile mapping, Mandli Communications, Nokia/Here, Google, Facet-Tech, Topcon, and Microsoft.
2) How many km/miles of roads are there to map? How many vehicles would Apple need to cover them all in [I]y[/I]-amount of time? Or, rather, cover the most commonly used [I]x[/I]% in [I]y[/I]-amount of time? (I understand the first question can be answered, but with a large variance depending on the definition of "road", and the second one being very tough because of stopping, traffic, detours, speed limits, potential of having to go back the opposite way if the road is too wide, etc. I'm just throwing it out there to see what the brilliant minds of this forum will think of when presented with such a question)
How many km/miles of roads are there to map? How many vehicles would Apple need to cover them all in y-amount of time?
I think the rule of thumb is that Google refreshes their street view approximately every three years. My experience correlates with this looking at my own house. Assuming that Apple deploys an equal amount of resources, they will only be a couple years behind at first and then they will be able to narrow the gap. People say that Google has a huge head start but if everyone has to start over every three years that means that any company with sufficient financial resources can catch up to the leader in less than three years.