Apple is planning to expand the capabilities of CarPlay by further integrating it into vehicles and adding new system controls.
According to Gizmodo, the “IronHeart” project aims to expand CarPlay beyond music and navigation apps by allowing users to control more of a vehicle’s systems. IronHeart is similar to Apple’s previous efforts to integrate apps into a unified system, such as Home and Health.
CarPlay currently works by connecting an iPhone to a car’s internal display to control information and entertainment apps, as well as providing a hands-free way to send texts.
Apple hopes to include control over a car’s internal climate, speedometer, seats, armrests, and sound system in the new iteration. The new features are also expected to control a vehicle’s sensors, though the company did not specify which ones.
The IronHeart project is still in its early stages and will require the cooperation of car manufacturers to be realized. CarPlay is currently supported by over 600 different car models.
Apple has been working hard over the last few years to expand its presence in the automotive industry. A rumored Apple Car collaboration with Hyundai had been in the works for some time, but the deal between the two companies fell through.
Project Titan has been in development since 2014, with no set release date. Because Apple continues to struggle with cars, many executives from Project Titan have left the company to work for other manufacturers.
