Land Rover will use the upcoming Burghley Horse Trials to show off an experimental new system that claims to be able to eliminate the blind spots associated with towing caravans and large trailers.
The 'Transparent Trailer' system uses a remote camera mounted to the back of the caravan or trailer, and combines that with the surround view cameras optionally fitted to all Land Rover products. The system combines the feed from all cameras to give a virtual see-through trailer, taking away dangerous blind spots. It can also send the image from the rear-facing camera on the caravan to the car's rear view mirror.
Wolfgang Epple, Director of Research and Technology, Jaguar Land Rover, said: "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. 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."
Land Rover is also working on a cargo monitoring system, which uses pressure plates, temperature sensors and a camera to detect if a load in a trailer or horsebox is moving around too much or if an animal is becoming distressed. It comes with a smartphone app that allows you to keep an eye on your load when you're away from the car.
Dr Epple added: "Many of our customers tow valuable cargoes for business and pleasure, so we are researching a range of technologies that would enhance the towing experience and make it safer - for the driver and even their horses. A permanent video feed through to the dashboard from the trailer has the potential to distract the driver from the road ahead. Instead, we are developing a more intelligent system that is able to detect a problem with the horse in the trailer and warn the driver. The video is then available for owners to view the inside of the trailer and support a decision to pull over and check the horse."
Animal physiologist Dr Emma Punt will work with the British Animal Rescue and Trauma Care Association (BARTA) and the Royal Veterinary College on a research project to better understand horse stress and distress during travel and to see how Jaguar Land Rover's Cargo Sense technology could be used to indicate horse distress.
As well as testing a range of devices that measure the animal's physical wellbeing inside a trailer, Dr Punt will validate how a pressure sensor mat could identify and locate hoof pressure to highlight if the horse has moved unexpectedly.
Dr Punt said: "Whether it is to help prevent road accidents and injuries to horse and handler, or even to simply ensure your horse arrives at its destination stress free, I'm sure every owner would like to learn how to reduce stress for their horse during travel.
"Gaining a better understanding of the environment inside the trailer, and the horse's reaction to it, would make the animal more comfortable during travel and ensure the horse is capable of performing to the best of its ability, whether it's at a local competition, or a major international event like the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.