You have to see the Swincar in action to appreciate what we’re dealing with here, it’s sort of a spider suspension ATV, … sort of. It has pendulum suspension, which means the main body swings within the wheels. Traveling across a slope the body remains vertical while the wheels adapt to the hill. Turning rapidly, the body swings outward tilting the driver into the turn. Wheel travel is extreme and allows the vehicle to traverse deep ditches and clear high obstacles on one side. The Swincar is electric with a motor in each wheel and batteries down low in the chassis. It’s fascinating to watch.
You can probably imagine situations where it would be ideal, though I’m not sure if there are enough of them to give it clear superiority to other vehicles already in existence. As an engineering exercise, they’ve certainly done an excellent job, as a fun vehicle it hits the mark as well. I guess I have to get my head around it a little more to figure out if it does anything not already possible, but it definitely makes for an interesting video. It comes from France, so Vive la difference!
Thanks for the tip, Ted!
Link: Swincar
Pat Sullivan says
Looks like a fun backyard toy… not a serious ‘extreme off road’ thing. But, might be some good ideas for those who build rock crawlers.
Paul Crowe says
Rock crawlers were what came to my mind, too, but some of the rocks those guys take on are a lot bigger than what this would handle. Of course you could scale it up, I guess.
Actually, I think it is a real alternative as an off road or all terrain wheel chair. If you can stand on the pegs of an MX bike, you can easily do most anything this can, but if you can’t stand, this would be perfect.
Sebastian Wiers says
As I recall, the inventor was originally developing a vehicle for a paraplegic relative; he had a nice blog with early models that tilted very nicely, but did not have long wheel travel or independently moving front and rear ends. The swinging mechanism was intended to eliminate the need to resist side forces when cornering, so somebody lacking torso strength could comfortably remain upright. It obviously went on from there, but I think the original purpose shows through, in that this is more of a hiking trail capable vehicle that anybody can use than a ‘performance’ machine. An electric horse, if you will.
Wave says
It’s already been done as a rock crawler, the “Chainlink extreme 4×4” might have even inspired this one. Youtube video from 2009:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_F7QrR4Ur8
Paul Crowe says
They have the extreme travel suspension part of it, but the chassis doesn’t move the same, it seems to be hydraulically operated in some way. The Swincar chassis hangs like a pendulum and moves accordingly. Very impressive abilities though.
GenWaylaid says
The long front leading arm/rear trailing arm arrangement goes back at least as far as the Citroen 2CV. Those have quite impressive wheel travel, too.
I like the Swincar’s tilting and extra articulation. At full rock-crawler scale, it would be quite impressive. Probably have to use hub motors there, too, perhaps hydraulic?
Jack Wade says
I am a logger in North Idaho and I am wondering how this concept can be applied to a log skidder. It appears to be very stable in a side hill situation.