Land Rover is making it easier than ever for drivers to haul their loads as the company unveiled two monitoring systems – the "Transparent Trailer" and "Cargo Sense."
Launched Tuesday, the Transparent Trailer system prototype offers the driver an unobstructed view, as the name suggests, of the rear with the use of the vehicle's rear-view mirror.
The system uses a set of video cameras, which include the cameras on the wing mirrors as well as the reversing camera, to generate the illusion of a see-through trailer from the driver's perspective. This helps the driver to check the surrounding area while maneuvering.
"When you are overtaking, it is instinctive to check your mirrors, but if you are towing, your vision is often restricted with large blind spots. Our Transparent Trailer project is researching how we could offer a view out of the vehicle unrestricted by your trailer, no matter what its size or shape," said Wolfgang Epple, Jaguar Land Rover's director of research and technology.
He added the system gives a high-quality video image without any obstructions, allowing the driver to get the correct information needed to help make effective decisions while maneuvering or traveling. This makes towing smoother and safer.
Meanwhile, the company touts its Cargo Sense system as being an in-car trailer-monitoring application, allowing the driver to keep an eye the on the product and to assess the condition within the trailer from the driver's seat.
The system, for instance, will automatically send out a "Check Cargo" alert to notify the driver of a possible problem with the products before anything else becomes serious. The system will then send a live video clip from the camera within the trailer while traveling, via the infotainment monitor located inside the vehicle. Cargo Sense also uses a pressure-sensitive mat which makes it possible to detect the movement of loads within the trailer.
Moreover, the application enables the driver to look for the condition of the trailer and cargo remotely when he or she is away from the vehicle.
Last year, the Jaguar Land Rover's new Transparent Pillar system was also launched which uses the same technology to remove blind spots and to enable a modern passenger car's driver to follow navigation commands.
"If we can keep the driver's eyes on the road ahead and present information in a nondistracting way, we can help drivers make better decisions in the most demanding and congested driving environments," said Epple.
