A differential is a mechanical device that distributes torque between two wheels while allowing them to rotate at different speeds a necessity when a vehicle turns, as the outer wheel must travel farther and faster than the inner one. The Ugears model replicates this through interconnected gears and a drive system that demonstrates how torque is transferred and balanced across an axle.

By manipulating the control lever, users can simulate real driving scenarios, such as locked axle movement or independent wheel rotation. This hands on mechanism illustrates fundamental engineering concepts including gear ratio, torque distribution, friction reduction, and mechanical linkage. Based on the original device invented by Onesiphore Pecqueur in 1825 and improved by Ferdinand Porsche in the 1930s, the model provides insight into one of automotive engineering’s most important innovations.