X

Apple may be building a drone fleet to help improve its maps

Flying drones around would certainly be an easier way of seeing the ground than using cars is, according to Bloomberg report on Apple's plans.

Andrew Lanxon Editor At Large, Lead Photographer, Europe
Andrew is CNET's go-to guy for product coverage and lead photographer for Europe. When not testing the latest phones, he can normally be found with his camera in hand, behind his drums or eating his stash of home-cooked food. Sometimes all at once.
Expertise Smartphones, Photography, iOS, Android, gaming, outdoor pursuits Credentials
  • Shortlisted for British Photography Awards 2022, Commended in Landscape Photographer of the Year 2022
See full bio
Andrew Lanxon
dji-inspire-2.jpg
Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Apple is reportedly putting together a fleet of drones to take to the skies in order to improve its Maps service, Bloomberg reported.

The drones will be used to examine street signs, track changes in road layouts and update the database with areas of construction, Bloomberg's source explained. Using drones to track the changes in the landscape would produce faster results than using cars fitted with cameras and sensors, which is how the company currently updates its service.

Apple is also said to have been granted approval to fly drones for commercial purposes by the US Federal Aviation Administration, and has reportedly hired at least one person from Amazon's drone delivery service Prime Air.