Apple might just be getting it’s drone on.

The plan seems to be for Apple Inc. to use drones to improve its Maps service and catch longtime leader Google. Apple filed for an exemption on Sept. 21, 2015, from the Federal Aviation Administration to fly drones for commercial purposes, and it appears they may just have been granted one.

Possible leaked prototype iDrone.

Apple lacked the technology needed to quickly suck in data from many different sources to evaluate and change the digital maps. So now Apple wants to fly drones around to do things like examine street signs, track changes to roads and monitor if areas are under construction, faster and with more information than its existing camera and sensor packed vans. The data collected would be sent to Apple teams that ‘rapidly’ update the Maps app to provide fresh information to users.

Big thank you to Aleesha for letting me borrow her precious iDevice.

Do you think that Apple flying quadcopters around to collect data is a good idea? Has Apple already lost you as a customer over Apple maps? We’d like to hear from you in the comments below.