iPhone 6 Problems: Apple Creating Drop Protection System For Its iPhones

In a clear indication that it is taking all complaints about cracked iPhone screens seriously, Apple is creating a drop protection system for its best-selling devices.

The system, which the company has secured a patent for, will allow an iPhone to change its position in midair after it is dropped. Just like how a cat changes its position in midair while dropping, the phone will have a built-in mechanism that will allow it to change its position in midair and land at an angle to minimize damage.

While the drop protection mechanism is being described as "amazing" by many, it is not clear when the system will come into operation, and whether or not it will be feasible.

TechCruch, reporting on the system, notes that the technology behind it is based on the vibration motor that was in earlier models of the iPhone. Working as part of a drop protection measure, the motor will help change the trajectory of the iPhone as it drops.

However, it will have to work with a variety of other sensors on the iPhone such as accelerometer and gyroscopes to change the position of the device in real time. TechCruch notes that ultimately the drop protection system could include even a GPS and ultrasonic emitter all working in tandem to sense how the phone is dropping. Finally the vibration motor would step in and change the angle of the phone and even its center of gravity.

The patent application for the drop protection system was acquired by AppleInsider and it features some "exotic" elements. One of the features is the ability to deploy air foils and thereby control how the device lands.

However, given that the patent application filed by Apple was only recently accepted, the system may still be in the nascent stage. Until such a system is released, customers will have to rely on "extra durable" sapphire glass, which is rumored to be on the iPhone 7, to prevent cracking of screens.