By Steve & Tamami Laser
Our friends know all about the rigors of trailer towing. Over the years they’ve hitched up flatbeds (loaded with racing cars), caravans (also known as house trailers), and boats. Changing lanes while towing can be challenging, having to rely upon sideview mirrors and the cooperation of fellow motorists. Researchers at Land Rover say they’ve discovered a better way. They’ve developed an innovative camera system that’s said to make a loaded trailer or caravan “transparent” while being towed to improve safety.
Land Rover’s “Transparent Trailer” is designed to remove the blind spot created when towing. The automaker says it makes passing slower traffic safer while assisting trailer maneuvering by improving visibility. In addition, a new Cargo Sense App allows drivers to monitor the status of the trailer and cargo remotely via their smartphones. Sensors on the floor of the trailer could alert the driver if the load is shifting or if “a horse is in distress.”
The prototype system combines the video feed from the vehicle’s existing surround camera system – including the backup camera and separate cameras on both outside mirrors – with a video from a digital wireless camera placed on the trailer or caravan. The video feeds are then combined to create live images that make the trailer “transparent.” When the trailer is coupled to the tow vehicle, the live video feed would automatically appear in the inside rearview mirror.
When backing up, the driver would also be able to view the camera feed from the back of the caravan or trailer through the infotainment screen, with guidance lines calibrated to help reverse both car and trailer.
Cargo Sense is another innovative idea for an in-car trailer monitoring system designed to optimize cargo loading for safer towing. The prototype system combines a remote video camera inside the trailer and a mat of pressure sensors on the floor, that both link wirelessly to the towing vehicle.
In addition to helping drivers load cargo evenly, the pressure sensitive mat would detect if the load of boxes, antique furniture, a classic car or even a valuable horse is moving around inside the trailer in an unexpected or abnormal way while travelling.
Land Rover says the system would send a “Check Cargo” warning to the dashboard to alert the driver to an issue with the cargo (or a horse) before it becomes serious. Live video footage from the camera inside the trailer could then be made available through the infotainment screen in the vehicle. A passenger would be able to view the footage while the vehicle is in motion. Alternatively, the driver could view the video while stationary to assess the situation in the trailer from the safety of the driver’s seat.
The Cargo Sense app allows the driver to check the status of both trailer and load remotely when the owner is away from the trailer. If a horse owner is away from the trailer while walking the course at an equestrian event for example, the system could automatically alert the owner via SMS if the horse is distressed, if the temperature inside has exceeded safe levels, or if the trailer is being tampered with.
Land Rover’s “Transparent Trailer” and Cargo Sense technologies are experimental prototypes. They are demonstrated in Land Rover vehicles in this story equipped for the UK market.
News source and photos courtesy of Land Rover UK
Story (commentary) © 2015 CarNichiWa.com