Remember that scene in The Dark Knight when the "Batpod" motorcycle – without warning – reveals that it can do some insanely cool maneuvers like swiveling its tires to drive sideways?
That was Hollywood magic. The Batpod was real and drivable, but it couldn't go sideways. It sure looked cool, though, and it set minds wondering what it would be like if four-wheel vehicles could do the same thing — suddenly going from forward and backward movement to sliding around like a crab. Other movies have depicted cars with wheels that could pivot to drive in any direction. Minority Report and Speed Racer come to mind.
Aside from the stray prototype, however, there are no real, sideways-moving cars on Earth. There could be, though.
With its latest innovation, NASA has proven once again that the technology it develops for space exploration has practical applications in everyday life, right here on Earth.
The "Modular Robotic Vehicle" (MRV) was created at the Johnson Space Center in Houston and resembles a futuristic Jeep. It's a fully electric-powered vehicle that boasts four independent wheel motors — each of which can rotate up to 180 degrees, allowing for a zero-turning radius if desired.
In plain English: the MRV can spin in place. Imagine parallel parking by simply driving sideways into a spot.
With four wheels that can turn independently, you can imagine the kinds of tricks and moves it could do. Who needs drifting when you can just turn your wheels and drive side-to-side? Of course, all this freedom of movement begs the question: How do you control it?
NASA says there are "no mechanical linkages to the propulsion, steering or brake actuators," but it designed a collection of sensors that work with onboard computers to interpret driver input and turn the vehicle as commanded. In other words, the team created a special steering system that lets the driver control it by using a standard steering wheel. They even built a force feedback system into the steering wheel so "the driver feels the same resistance and sensations as a typical automobile."
Following a test drive, one of the MRV's creators said that it's "like driving on ice, but having complete control."
Due to its potential for planetary exploration technology, the MRV can also be driven by remote. (Don't expect that feature to pop up in next year's Honda.) The MRV can currently run for up to 62 miles on a single charge.
There's no word yet on the motor vehicle industry's interest in adopting this fascinating new technology — but it isn't hard to imagine that within the next 10 years or so, regular cars may be able to move like the MRV.
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Photos courtesy of NASA.
