Appirion's iDriver app lets iPhone control minivan (video)

Believe it or not, a device-controlled car isn't exactly fresh. In fact, we've actually seen a PSP control a Civic before Barack Obama was even a glimmer in the media's eye. That said, we're always willing to give credit where it's due, and the iDriver app just might be the most impressive use of Apple's smartphone... well, ever. As the name implies, this here app is able to control a heavily wired vehicle seemingly with ease -- the accelerometer handles the steering, and two soft buttons on the screen handle braking and acceleration. We'd bother explaining more, but we know you've already clicked past the break to see the whole thing demonstrated on video. Right?

[Via Engadget German]

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 14th 2009 4:54PM]

Huh... they should have tested it with AT&T's 3G network instead of WiFi. That would guarantee an immediate crash! :P

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 14th 2009 5:31PM]

HAHAHAHAAA....

LOL....

omfg.. so true, so true.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 14th 2009 5:30PM]

Meh.. James Bond was doing that exact same thing back in '97.
And with a lot more style =P
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meY1R43fJIQ

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 14th 2009 5:54PM]

wow that looks incredibly dangerous. wifi is easily knocked out of service. phone accelerometers are not that accurate or responsive. at 1:10 the minivan was pointed right at the operator with about 10 meters of space between them. I wonder what sort of fail-safes they implemented.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 14th 2009 6:37PM]

Hopefully if it's anything like the set-ups they have in Mythbusters, there is a fail safe when the 'transmitter' is out of range it immediately hits the brakes. Nonetheless, I'm not really seeing any real-life scenario as to when this would be useful.

[jordanjay29 Posted Oct 14th 2009 6:16PM]

No Joss Whedon love? I would have preferred to see a Dr. Horrible Van Remote clone, those controls on the app look too realistic. :P

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 14th 2009 6:36PM]

I still like this one better
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiLoANg6nNY&feature=player_embedded#watch-main-area

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 20th 2009 6:22AM]

@JerryE

I see some uses for this.

- Reversing your car out of a parking space where some moron has parked too close for you to open the door
- moving in and out of very tight garages.. (they build em small in the UK)
- powering up and warming up your car.
- Showing off to your friends..;)