Shift Magazine - Issue 1 2018 - 23
last mile
I N S I D E C A R M A K E R S ' C R E AT I V I T Y E N G I N E S
L
et's face it, most great, game-changing ideas for the auto industry end
up scribbled on the backs of napkins, doodled in the margins of meeting agendas and eventually scattered on the office floor. Occasionally,
some of those ideas make it to the next stage of the long struggle that
is innovation: filing for a patent with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
In 2017, 647,388 patent applications were filed, according to the patent
office. Those pages of technical information and drawings explaining how
the idea works and why it's unique represent an incremental step to solving
a problem or creating a new product. They'll also protect a company's butt if
competitors want to copy details of its products.
Here are some particularly creative or thought-provoking automotive patent
applications from the past several weeks, giving you a taste for what the
industry is brainstorming for the future of transportation.
- Shiraz Ahmed
X-RAY VISION FOR DIY MECHANICS
The idea: All right, fine, it's not really X-ray vision, but this patent from Amazon
mimics the superpower by applying augmented reality to car repair, allowing
at-home mechanics and tinkerers to get a look inside their vehicles without
stripping off paneling and getting tangled up in wiring harnesses.
Why it's cool: Car repair can be difficult and the chances that even a
skilled amateur can screw up something by purchasing the wrong part
or forgetting a strategically placed screw are high, so any technology that
makes it easier to work on what you own is a positive for companies such
as Amazon that cater to consumers.
INFOTAINMENT FOR THE BLIND
The idea: This patent, from Ford Global Technologies, duplicates a driver's infotainment and climate control menu for blind passengers, creating
a version that simulates Braille script and letting them adjust settings to
their comfort.
Why it's cool: Ride-hailing and self-driving robotaxis have the potential to
offer mobility services to the disabled, and innovations such as this could
make it easier for the disabled to embrace and trust these new technologies.
KICK BACK AND RELAX IN YOUR ROBOTAXI
The idea: Waymo, the self-driving car company that spun out of Google's
labs, filed a patent for configurable seating in its future robotaxis that
allows the company to turn four-seater cars into two-seaters by folding
the front seats into foot rests.
Why it's cool: Stripping the driver controls out of cars opens up a world
of possibilities for interior design, and Waymo's patent shows a savvy
understanding of how customizing the rider experience will be a key
brand differentiator.
may 2018 * shift
23
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Shift Magazine - Issue 1 2018
Shift Magazine - Issue 1 2018
Contents
From the Editor
Q&A
Movable Type
Trend Spotting
Think Like a Disrupter
New Motor City?
Negative Space
Battlegrounds
Old Problems
Last Mile
Shift Magazine - Issue 1 2018 - Intro
Shift Magazine - Issue 1 2018 - Shift Magazine - Issue 1 2018
Shift Magazine - Issue 1 2018 - Contents
Shift Magazine - Issue 1 2018 - From the Editor
Shift Magazine - Issue 1 2018 - Q&A
Shift Magazine - Issue 1 2018 - Movable Type
Shift Magazine - Issue 1 2018 - Trend Spotting
Shift Magazine - Issue 1 2018 - 7
Shift Magazine - Issue 1 2018 - 8
Shift Magazine - Issue 1 2018 - 9
Shift Magazine - Issue 1 2018 - Think Like a Disrupter
Shift Magazine - Issue 1 2018 - 11
Shift Magazine - Issue 1 2018 - New Motor City?
Shift Magazine - Issue 1 2018 - 13
Shift Magazine - Issue 1 2018 - Negative Space
Shift Magazine - Issue 1 2018 - 15
Shift Magazine - Issue 1 2018 - 16
Shift Magazine - Issue 1 2018 - 17
Shift Magazine - Issue 1 2018 - Battlegrounds
Shift Magazine - Issue 1 2018 - 19
Shift Magazine - Issue 1 2018 - 20
Shift Magazine - Issue 1 2018 - 21
Shift Magazine - Issue 1 2018 - Old Problems
Shift Magazine - Issue 1 2018 - Last Mile
Shift Magazine - Issue 1 2018 - Cover4
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