Charlie the hamster steered a 14.5 tonne truck up a Spanish quarry to prove how easy it is to steer the Volvo?s new FMX construction truck. Charlie weighs just 175g.
For this stunt, a specialised hamster cage was attached to the truck’s steering wheel and Charlie was enticed to steer with a carrot. A human controlled the accelerator, brakes and carrot.
Charlie was said to have undergone ?several weeks? of training before the challenge but his lack of driving experience showed. Nevertheless, the truck managed to make its quarry climb successfully. In the video, Volvo neglected to show if Charlie finally got to have his carrot and eat it too.
With Volvo Dynamic Steering, an electric motor replaces the driver’s muscle power, making it possible for the hamster to steer the truck. This technology is unique in the automotive industry.
“At low speeds, a heavily laden vehicle is so easy to manoeuvre that it can be steered with just one finger,? Jan-Inge Svensson, the engineer behind the development of the system’s software at Volvo Trucks, said. ?When driving on the highway, this dynamic steering system offers unbeatable directional stability.”
?The Hamster Stunt? is one of many innovative tests involving Volvo Trucks’ new models.
“Our films reveal the technical innovations of our new truck models in a unique way. More films of spectacular tests are due out soon,” Volvo Trucks? Claes Nilsson revealed.
Sources: Volvo, Tom?s Hardware Guide, The Blaze, CNET, Four Wheeler Magazine, Car Site UK