alt Hacker NewsThe thing why this was only a research project and never came into mass production was regulatory stuff, IIRC? (most EU countries require, still until today, a "physical connection between steering wheel and wheels" in their trafic regulation)
The thing why this was only a research project and never came into mass production was regulatory stuff, IIRC? (most EU countries require, still until today, a "physical connection between steering wheel and wheels" in their trafic regulation)
This was a few years before Sweden joined the EU, but yes, I think the lack of a physical connection was one of the main problems.
From what I've read the test drivers also thought the car was too difficult to drive, with the joystick being too reactive. I wonder how much of that could be solved today with modern software and stability control tech.
I can't find it now, but I do remember a similar prototype with mechanical wires (not electrical) that was supposed to solve the regulatory requirements. That joystick looked more like a cyclic control from a helicopter.