If you’re like me, you probably feel like you’ve spent half your life trying to parallel park your car. But the bane of any city driver’s existence could soon be a thing of the past if a new robotic prototype enters the automotive market. The German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence has developed a car that, until now, was the stuff of pure science fiction — the EO Smart Connecting Car 2, or “EO 2” for short. The EO 2 is a very small, shapeshifting car that grants drivers the kind of freedom that puts the Mercedes Benz Smart Car to shame. Its four wheels are capable of rotating a full ninety degrees, which means the car can spin in a perfect circle and drive sideways. Since the EO 2’s side panels can slide up and over each other, its body can compress from 8.2 feet to 4.9 feet. That means drivers need no longer shake their head in frustration at parking spots in which their car is too large to fit, while the challenge of parallel parking is eliminated altogether. To see what I’m talking about, check out the following video illustrating the EO 2’s capabilities…

As can be seen in the above video, the EO 2 is modular, which means a series of such cars can connect to one another, forming a sort of train. This would ultimately allow drivers to have all the benefits of a train or subway commute — with their hands and mind free to do other things on the way to work — while still giving them complete access to their car after they reach their destination.

There’s still no word on when this car could reach the market, but my fingers are tightly crossed it happens in my lifetime. I may never get a personal jet pack, but I’ll be damned if I don’t get a robot car!

What do you folks think? Would your life be made a lot easier by the EO 2? Let us know below!

HT: Mashable.com