Toyota files patent for 'crab-like' handling. What's that?

In a world obsessed with race car ride and handling, Toyota is looking at another direction: cyberpunk-inspired, all-terrain handling. 

In a filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the application describes a system where all four wheels can turn enough to make them point laterally, allowing for sideways movement, something like the Nissan Pivo pictured above. To make things simpler, imagine how a crab walks, and you’ve got the right idea!

Additionally, the wheels can also rotate to allow turning in place (similar to Rivian's system) or even make diagonal movements. The system is pretty clever - each wheel has its own motor and is mounted to a structure that allows for wide rotation angles (something like what’s on your office chair).

If this system comes into mass production, we can expect new ways to move and park our cars. For example, one can just slide sideways into a parallel parking space.

Interestingly, Toyota’s patent filing is not specifically about the turning mechanism but focuses on how turning signals can be used to indicate these new ways of movement. However, keep in mind that being patented doesn’t directly mean that it’ll be commercialised anytime soon.