Uber iOS App Could Soon Include Augmented Reality Directions for Finding Your Driver - GeekWebGuides
Skip to Content

Uber iOS App Could Soon Include Augmented Reality Directions for Finding Your Driver

Uber appears to be working on an augmented reality walking directions feature designed to help Uber users find the appropriate vehicle and driver in a crowded area. Mentions of augmented reality function were discovered in the Uber iOS app code by GeekWebGuides contributor Steve Moser.

uber ar patent

From Uber's augmented reality assisted pickup patent

"Tap to enter AR walking experience," reads the code, which also includes these snippets that give hints on how the AR directions work:

  • AR only available on iOS 11 and above.
  • Walk outside
  • Tilt camera up
  • Pan your camera
  • Ready, set, walk
  • AR walking only works when you're outdoors
  • Align arrows
  • Be Careful and stay alert of your surroundings.
  • Make sure you're outside and facing the street.
  • Using some GPS sauce. Hold on.

Uber in 2018 patented an augmented reality assisted pickup feature that matches a rider with an available driver and helps them meet up through an augmented reality control module that directs the passenger through the camera app, and it appears the feature could soon be on its way to being deployed.


There is no word on when Uber's augmented reality assisted walking feature might debut, and the company has made no formal announcement at this time. Other apps like Google Maps also offer augmented reality walking directions that overlay directional arrows on the real-world view seen through the camera.

Popular Stories

M5 MacBook Pro

RIP, MacBook Ultra

Monday October 19, 2026 9:37 am PDT by
Apple today sent out invites for an experience in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 28, and the "Pro and tell" tagline on the invitation likely means that the rumored MacBook models with touch-enabled OLED displays will stick with MacBook Pro branding instead of the once-rumored "MacBook Ultra" name. The long-rumored "iPhone Ultra" ended up being named iPhone Duo, so speculation that Apple...
iPhone Duo Trio

Here's What Apple's Apps Look Like on the iPhone Duo

Tuesday October 20, 2026 11:12 am PDT by
With just three days to go until the iPhone Duo is released, Apple is getting ready for the launch. Behind the scenes, the App Store now has screenshots of Apple's built-in apps running on the Duo. We've seen some apps in marketing materials, but images of the ones we haven't seen give us an idea of what it will be like using the iPhone Duo day to day. Many apps are shown in landscape...
apple pro tell logo

Apple Announcing New Products Next Week: 'Pro and Tell'

Monday October 19, 2026 9:05 am PDT by
Apple's Greg Joswiak today hinted at new product announcements coming next week, sharing a social media post that says "Can't wait to pro and tell next week." Rumors suggest Apple is planning to debut the new MacBook Pro with an OLED touchscreen display, an M6 entry-level MacBook Pro, an M6 iMac, an iPad mini with an OLED display. Can't wait to pro and tell next week....

Top Rated Comments

mansplains Avatar
73 months ago
At least someone's thinking of how to put the LiDAR sensors to use... With how much Apple pushes AR (and pushed VR dev with iMac Pro, RIP) and rolled out LiDAR, the relevant apps are still in their infancy.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
primarycolors Avatar
73 months ago

How many people have not found their Uber drivers, when you give them your precise location, picture and you receive their precise location, picture, car type, colour and registration?

When the car goes somewhere not even close to the location I gave then sits there waiting.

One time, I made the mistake of ordering one near a 6-way intersection in SF. I thought standing somewhat down the street would've helped, but no. Driver stopped on the opposite side of the intersection and put on blinkers. When I finally realized and jay-ran across three red lights, he gave up and started driving away. AND marked me as being in the car. I chased the car down a crowded street, and eventually the jerk let me in.
This absolutely. I had a similar experience when I was a teenager, alone, anxious and lost in San Francisco trying to get to a festival.

It was absolute panic and sensory overload trying to find my Uber in the busy street among hundreds of similar cars. Juggling between the driver screaming at me over the phone in a thick accent and trying to find him on the GPS. Darted three blocks trying to find him before he hung up and cancelled the ride. In the process of wandering around to find a calmer spot to try again, I'd somehow gotten myself into a notoriously dangerous district. I only found out where I was when the next driver was concerned as to what a lone teenager was doing there.

I don't know how this feature would play out real-world, but if it works, it could save others from going through what I did. Situations like that also taught me the value of a small/one-handed phone, so I could hold mace in my offhand..
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
73 months ago
How many people have not found their Uber drivers, when you give them your precise location, picture and you receive their precise location, picture, car type, colour and registration?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
hot-gril Avatar
73 months ago

How many people have not found their Uber drivers, when you give them your precise location, picture and you receive their precise location, picture, car type, colour and registration?
When the car goes somewhere not even close to the location I gave then sits there waiting.

One time, I made the mistake of ordering one near a 6-way intersection in SF. I thought standing somewhat down the street would've helped, but no. Driver stopped on the opposite side of the intersection and put on blinkers. When I finally realized and jay-ran across three red lights, he gave up and started driving away. AND marked me as being in the car. I chased the car down a crowded street, and eventually the jerk (well, I guess not a total jerk) let me in.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cwosigns Avatar
73 months ago
FINALLY a use case scenario for LiDAR that seems useful.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AndreyGurov Avatar
72 months ago
na
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
iPhone Duo Reviewers Really Miss Face ID
iPhone Duo Reviewers Really Miss Face ID
5 hours ago
Does the iPhone Duo Run Hot? Here's What Reviews Found
Does the iPhone Duo Run Hot? Here's What Reviews Found
6 hours ago
Apple Music's New Look is Now Live on Apple's Website
Apple Music's New Look is Now Live on Apple's Website
7 hours ago
Anthropic Launches Claude Duet, a Proactive AI Agent
Anthropic Launches Claude Duet, a Proactive AI Agent
7 hours ago
What 32,000 Folds Did to the iPhone Duo's Hinge
What 32,000 Folds Did to the iPhone Duo's Hinge
8 hours ago
iPhone Duo's Hidden FaceTime Camera Takes 'Trash' Photos
iPhone Duo's Hidden FaceTime Camera Takes 'Trash' Photos
9 hours ago
iPhone Duo Has 'Edge Light' Feature That Debuted on Macs Last Year
iPhone Duo Has 'Edge Light' Feature That Debuted on Macs Last Year
10 hours ago
Apple Support App Updated for iPhone Duo's Larger Display
Apple Support App Updated for iPhone Duo's Larger Display
10 hours ago
Amazon Sweetens the Deal on Entry-Level 16-Inch MacBook Pro With $570 Off
Amazon Sweetens the Deal on Entry-Level 16-Inch MacBook Pro With $570 Off
10 hours ago
iPhone Duo Tips Over on MagSafe Stands When Unfolded
iPhone Duo Tips Over on MagSafe Stands When Unfolded
11 hours ago
Apple Music's New Look Officially Announced
Apple Music's New Look Officially Announced
12 hours ago
iPhone Duo Supports Apple Pencil Starting With iOS 27.2
iPhone Duo Supports Apple Pencil Starting With iOS 27.2
13 hours ago
iPhone Duo Accessories Roundup: Cases and Screen Protectors From OtterBox, ZAGG, and More
iPhone Duo Accessories Roundup: Cases and Screen Protectors From OtterBox, ZAGG, and More
14 hours ago
Apple Stores Will Have 'Limited' Availability of iPhone Duo for Walk-In Customers
Apple Stores Will Have 'Limited' Availability of iPhone Duo for Walk-In Customers
14 hours ago
iPhone Duo Reviews Explain Why Device is Both 'Fun' and 'Frustrating'
iPhone Duo Reviews Explain Why Device is Both 'Fun' and 'Frustrating'
14 hours ago
Apple Says 'Reachability' Feature Coming to iPhone Duo Later This Year
Apple Says 'Reachability' Feature Coming to iPhone Duo Later This Year
15 hours ago
Loop Capital Cuts Apple Rating Over iPhone Sales Outlook
Loop Capital Cuts Apple Rating Over iPhone Sales Outlook
19 hours ago
Apple Stores in Bordeaux and Lille Looted During French Protests
Apple Stores in Bordeaux and Lille Looted During French Protests
19 hours ago
Bluesound Adds Native Apple Music Support
Bluesound Adds Native Apple Music Support
20 hours ago
Apple CEO John Ternus Explains What Makes Good Product Design
Apple CEO John Ternus Explains What Makes Good Product Design
21 hours ago
UK Proposes New Ways to Help Apple Pay Rivals
UK Proposes New Ways to Help Apple Pay Rivals
23 hours ago
WhatsApp Developing In-App Browser for All Chat Links on iPhone
WhatsApp Developing In-App Browser for All Chat Links on iPhone
1 day ago
Apple's App Store Chief Explains Its Push for Premium Games
Apple's App Store Chief Explains Its Push for Premium Games
1 day ago
Apple Could Owe Even More After $5.7 Billion Patent Verdict
Apple Could Owe Even More After $5.7 Billion Patent Verdict
1 day ago
Skyrim Comes to Apple Silicon Macs With New Unofficial Installer
Skyrim Comes to Apple Silicon Macs With New Unofficial Installer
1 day ago
Apple Highlights Mac and iPad Use in Paris Design Exhibition
Apple Highlights Mac and iPad Use in Paris Design Exhibition
1 day ago
Apple Seeks 6G Modem Engineers as It Plans for Post-5G iPhones
Apple Seeks 6G Modem Engineers as It Plans for Post-5G iPhones
1 day ago
First iPhone Duo Unboxing Video Appears Ahead of Friday Launch
First iPhone Duo Unboxing Video Appears Ahead of Friday Launch
1 day ago
Perplexity Computer Can Now Run Fully Locally on Mac
Perplexity Computer Can Now Run Fully Locally on Mac
1 day ago
Apple's Touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro: Everything We Know
Apple's Touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro: Everything We Know
1 day ago