Land Rover Wants to Make Your Trailer See Through
Land Rover is working on a new technology that would make trailers transparent in the rearview mirror.
Being demonstrated at Burghley House Trials, Land Rover researchers have developed an innovative camera system that will make a trailer or caravan appear see-through in the rearview mirror.
The technology aims to completely remove the blind spot created when towing a large object, allowing the driver to clearly see vehicles behind the trailer or caravan. The prototype “Transparent Trailer” system combines the video feed from the vehicle’s existing surround camera system with a video from a digital wireless camera that is placed on the rear of whatever is being towed.
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When reversing, the driver will also be able to view the camera feed from the back of the caravan of trailer on the infotainment screen with guide lines configured to help reverse both car and trailer.
“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,” said Dr. Wolfgang Epple, director of research and technology at Jaguar Land Rover. “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. Our prototype system offers a very high quality video image with no distortion of other cars or obstructions. This means the driver would have exactly the right information to make safe and effective decisions when driving or manoeuvring, making towing safer and less stressful.”
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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