Apple, BAE Receive Patent for Articulated Vehicle System

Apple Inc. and Sweden’s BAE Systems Hagglunds AB have been awarded a U.S. patent for a pivoting system that connects the front and back sections of an articulated military-style tracked vehicle.

The patent, which was first reported by the company-specific website Patently Apple, covers a pivoting device that’s designed to help steer vehicles through turns. The integrated unit houses all the necessary wiring, hoses and drivetrain equipment running between the two ends of the vehicle.

The design, which also includes a heating device to prevent ice build-up, is stronger and more reliable than connectors used in current articulated vehicles, according to the developers.

A copy of the patent, which was filed in 2015, can be viewed here. BAE make a variety of military vehicles and components, including models that run on tracked wheels.