Ford Engineer Uses 3D Printer, Xbox 360 Controller to Change Manual Transmission

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By Sean Fitz-Gerald2013-08-02 07:24:42 UTC

The daunting forces of driving nature (for some, at least) that are manual transmissions might be getting a little easier, as a junior engineer from Ford has recently created a futuristic knob that tells you when it's time to shift gears.

Zach Nelson, the engineer behind the project, paired video game technology with 3D printing to put the contraption together. The device connects to an Android tablet and Ford's open-source software system, so the smart shifter can provide drivers with real-time data. Made of an Xbox 360 controller's feedback motor, an Arduino controller and other custom parts, the goal of the device is to make the handling easier on the driver by having technology do more of the thinking.

Take an in-depth look at how it works, below:

The shifter essentially vibrates when it's time for drivers to change gears — which, as Nelson points out, could not only be a great learning tool, but also a safer way of jumping from one gear to the next (eyes always on the road). The device isn't floating around any of Ford's vehicles yet (save the Mustang Nelson has been using for testing purposes), but the design files are open source, so anyone can get construction details.

Watch the videos above to learn more, and give us your take on the innovative driving assistant in the comments, below.

Ford shifter Image: YouTube, fordvideo1