Apple just received a patent for a ‘war situation’ device

It’s for a “steering device” on large vehicles with pivot joints to help them turn. Think of accordion buses or the way semi-trucks work. But according to the approved patent filing published Tuesday, the invention could be intended for vehicles in a “war situation.”

So what gives?

While the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted Apple the patent, the original application was approved last year for BAE Systems Hägglunds Aktiebolag, a Swedish subsidiary of the huge global defense company.

The invention is designed to better connect and steer two compartments of a vehicle inside a special “ballistic protection” enclosure.

Russell Phillips, an author of military tech books, believes the proposed tech is designed to improve something like the Bandvagn 202, an all-terrain truck used by the Swedish army.

The Bv 202 is actually two different vehicles, according to Phillips, and is used more for logistics transportation than combat.

The new device would help steer the front and back units simultaneously.

If the vehicle is turning left, for example, then the invention would steer the back wheels to the right to make the turn more easily.

Read more at CNN

Image courtesy of Apple