Apparently Apple intends to establish a work team made up of experts in robotics and data collection, which they would use as their main tool Drones. This is intended to improve the quality of images and the accuracy of the application. Maps. The objective is to shorten the distance that separates it from the main competitor in the market, Google Maps.
The company opts for this option as it is faster in capturing and updating images. From 2015 until today, Apple is using small GPS vans that take pictures of the place.
However, Apple constantly seeks to surprise us, as copying the competition does not add any value. The company is working on navigation inside the buildings, helped by the acquisitions of WifiSLAM
Apple wants to pilot drones to do things like: examine street signs, know the changes in the roads and monitor if the areas are under construction… The collected data would be sent to the Apple teams, which quickly update the Maps application to provide new information to the users.
Bloombergnews has documents by which Apple would have requested an exception to the Federal Aviation Administration to fly drones for commercial purposes. The agency's response has been to grant Apple the ability to:
… Operate a drone system to carry out data and photo collection.
However, this service would be limited, since Apple must comply with the regulations that make it impossible to fly over people or buildings, fly only during the day and the pilot in charge must have the necessary license.
Other information states that the company with the bitten apple has hired a pilot for the program Prime air de Amazon to join the Apple team located at Seattle. Other posts say that indoor mapping is progressing apace. Apple wants to help users orient themselves within large buildings such as airports or museums.
These services are expected to be available next year, as well as the Google Maps lane change service.