据路透社报道，苹果上述论文发表在公共网站arXiv，研究人员提交最终版论文以前通常在该网站先发布，征求初步的反馈。据报道，论文透露的重磅发现是，苹果开发出LiDAR（激光雷达）技术新的运用方式，名叫VoxelNet。理论上说，该技术可以帮自动驾驶汽车更容易判断周围物体的位置，包括骑自行车的人和行人，以便及时避开。

苹果的首席执行官蒂姆·库克此前称自动驾驶汽车为“所有人工智能项目之源”，但苹果从未披露研发相关技术的计划。

如今公开这项研究意味着，苹果已经准备好将计划进一步推进，或许是在向业内其他研究者征询意见并收集反馈。此举也可能帮助苹果招徕自动驾驶领域的人才，为之后的激烈竞争储备力量。（财富中文网）

译者：Pessy

审校：夏林

The paper was published on the public site arXiv, where researchers traditionally publish work to get preliminary feedback before publishing research in its final form, Reuters reports. The biggest takeaway from the report is that Apple has discovered a new way to use LiDAR technology called VoxelNet. The tech would, in theory, make it easier for autonomous vehicles to determine the location of objects, including things like cyclists and pedestrians, to better avoid them.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has called self-driving cars “the mother of all AI projects,” but the company has yet to disclose Apple’s plans for the technology.

Making the research public suggests that the company is ready to be more forthcoming with its plans, and perhaps seek advice and feedback from other researchers working in the field. The move may also potentially entice potential hires in the autonomous vehicle space to consider joining Apple over its competition.