Who knows, but it's possible that this invention was originally meant kind of tongue-in-cheek. I think any mechanical designer who could understand how differen

Who knows, but it's possible that this invention was originally meant kind of tongue-in-cheek. I think any mechanical designer who could understand how differential gears produce this result would also be aware that small errors (skidding of one wheel or whatever) would accumulate. Also it really invites comparison to a magnetic compass, which is much simpler, cheaper, more foolproof, and probably also invented in China. But the Chariot does work as a sort of pastiche of people or organizations who don't listen or look around them.