VIDEO: iDriver app controls cars through the iPhone
iDriver iPhone App controls a car - click above image to watch the video
There's a lot we could say right now. We could point to a recent LA Times Highway 1 blog post about how kids today are so into social media/sitting on their butts in front of the computer that they don't want or need cars. Or, we could talk about how awesome robo-technology like this (you'll see it all after the jump) would be a great way to bring back Group B or CanAm -- races deemed "too dangerous" for human being to compete in. Or we could just point out that we've seen Terminator 3 and we know how these things begin (and end), so excuse us if we run off to hide in cave up in the Sierra Nevadas.
But really, what you've got here is an iPhone controlling a minivan via an application called iDriver. That's right, an iPhone controlling a minivan. You got your control for the gas, the brakes and a steering wheel icon where you put your left thumb and twist it around to steer the minivan. Actually, that's not totally true. Your thumb stays still. The user must actually twist the iPhone around to steer.
The best part? The minivan beams images of what lays ahead directly back to the iPhone so you can see what the vehicle's pointing at, although there are a couple features notable by their absence. First, can you turn off the third row A/C while starting the Veggie Tales DVD for the hundred billionth time? Second, any contingency plan at all for what happens when the iPhone rings and you have to take the call? You can't exactly hit pause. Oooh -- what if the iPhone's battery goes dead? Interesting, no? Full video, after the jump.
[Source: YouTube via Engadget]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Quest 6:04PM (10/14/2009)
James Bond would be jealous
Reply
erik1080 6:43PM (10/14/2009)
But Q would be proud.
Ashley S. 12:53PM (10/15/2009)
They have posted an online demo for people to test:
bit.ly/XhmuF
jason 6:10PM (10/14/2009)
Interesting, but the steering seems hyper responsive and the throttle and brake are more or less binary. Obviously, the arm seems to roll the brake and throttle on or off, but I don't think it's ready for left foot (thumb?) braking.
I'm sure Al Qaeda will put in a bunch of orders for the app and C4 laden Dodge Grand Caravans. :)
Reply
Kyle 1:16AM (10/15/2009)
Hah advanced techniques in index-middle downshifting
larry a 6:22PM (10/14/2009)
I did enjoy the Mario Kart at the end..
Reply
fmwso 9:31PM (10/14/2009)
lol, that was funny, I liked it as well.
Galley 6:27PM (10/14/2009)
Dr. Horrible did it better.
Reply
UNCgrad1234 8:14PM (10/22/2009)
Now all they need is that app to turn on your car remotley.
Reply
BoxerFanatic 9:57PM (10/14/2009)
is that a joke?
Did you see the Viper app yesterday.... it does just that.
With auto-parking technology, automated emergency braking, steering, throttle-by-wire, front, rear, and even 360-degree multi-camera setups... linked into navigation and GPS location, and other systems on board... plus remote start, stop, locking... radar and sonar ranging systems...
Remote apps like this could theoretically gain almost total control over a highly technical current car.
And people wonder why I don't want an un-accountable cell modem in my car, that has access to every system on board, and is advertised on TV as being able to disable, or GPS track the vehicle, or extrapolate GPS/GIS location, direction and speed, and compare that to a database of legal speed limits... at the behest of anyone with authority, or impersonating an authority figure.
And with the court system in Wisconsin earlier this year ruling that surveillance with such systems doesn't require notification or a warrant of those being surveilled...
I won't be going anywhere near it without moral safeguards. Amazing technology, already on board. Every system I mentioned ALREADY exists, and is available on current market-saleable cars.
But also amazing opportunity for exploitation.
BoxerFanatic 10:00PM (10/14/2009)
Sorry, UNC... I mis-read your comment. I thought you were saying that one should be created, when it was just reported...
I didn't catch the "that", and thought it was an "an"
I thought the two apps would be quite a pair, as well.
mad matt 7:07PM (10/14/2009)
What happens when you drive straight and the car gets out of range? No wonder they were just going in circles....
Reply
mikemaj82 7:11PM (10/14/2009)
useless
Reply
cool_ozzyfromkalush 7:15PM (10/14/2009)
Great fun, but whats the point of this?
Reply
Steve 10:28PM (10/14/2009)
Another reason to keep women off of cell phones while driving
Reply
Aloysius Vampa 9:33PM (10/14/2009)
Or, you know, Tomorrow Never Dies.
If that's not the movie where he drives his car with his phone, I'm going to feel really stupid.
Reply
TIMMAH! 1:52AM (10/15/2009)
Call Jason Statham! Something new for him to drive in the next movie!
Reply
Tom 11:22AM (10/15/2009)
James Bond already did it in Tomorrow Never Dies with that silver BMW in the parking garage
Reply
Derek 11:52AM (10/15/2009)
Just makes me glad to have no computer controlls on my throttle, brakes, steering or transmission.
Reply
Rick 2:22PM (10/15/2009)
There was article yesterday about remote starting your car with the iPhone and a short comment about making it drive like Bond. Then today this, pretty cool stuff.
Reply