Land Rover: remote controlled off-roading with a smart phone
By Miles Downard
James Bond once drove a BMW 750, around a parking lot in a high speed chase, all while sat in the rear seat, controlling the car via his Ericsson mobile phone. That was in the 1997 film Tomorrow Never Dies, and my was it futuristic.
Fast forward near 20 years and Jaguar Land Rover's research team just came out with exactly the same trick. It's a Range Rover Sport that can be controlled entirely from one's smart phone.
The driver could use the smartphone to reverse the vehicle out of a parking space if someone has parked too close for them to open the door, for example. Nifty indeed.
It also provides the chance for all those off-road enthusiasts out there to do what they love most. Get out the car and look at obstacles. But now there's no need to drag some poor mate along for the ride, rather the driver can become their own off-road spotter, to guide the vehicle over off-road obstacles from outside the vehicle.
The smartphone app includes controls for steering, acceleration and braking, as well as the ability to change between high- and low-range gears. This would allow the driver to walk alongside the vehicle, at a maximum speed of 6km/h, to manoeuvre their vehicle out of challenging situations safely, or even to negotiate difficult off-road terrain.
Here's a video of the chaps doing just that.