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Ford engineer builds vibrating shift knob using 3D printer and an Xbox 360 controller (video)
You're not going to find it in the next car you drive off the lot, but a Ford engineer has developed a fairly novel approach to making a manual transmission a bit easier to adjust to: a vibrating shifter knob. As he explains in the video after the break, Zach Nelson first turned to an Xbox 360 controller for the necessary vibrating mechanism, which he then stuffed into a 3D-printed knob along with an Arduino controller and an LED display. When fully assembled, the knob is able to communicate with the vehicle's on-board diagnostic system using Ford's open source OpenXC software platform, and vibrate to let you know when you need to shift gears. As Wired notes, the knob can even be used by more experienced drivers to pinpoint exactly when to shift to get either the most performance or the best fuel economy. We also expect a booming business in custom shifter designs to start any minute now.
Indy-Cator rolls out LCD-equipped shift knob
Those looking to turn their car into an updated version of K.I.T.T. may want to give Indy-Cator's latest creation some consideration, which manages to spice up an otherwise ordinary shift knob by outfitting it with a built-in LCD. In addition to adding that touch of excess, the knob supposedly "increases driving safety" and even "helps reduce fuel consumption by up to 15 percent," apparently by helping to adapt your driving style. If that sounds like the shift knob you've been waiting for, you can get one of these now in your choice of red or blue for $169.[Via Autoblog]
