Like handbook transmission shifting, the flexibility again a tow hitch underneath a trailer coupler appears to be a ability that youthful generations have given up on – however that doesn’t imply they don’t need to haul their bikes, boats, or RVs out into the wilderness. Now, a brand new patent reveals GM’s plans to make hooking a trailer to your automobile even simpler, with a drone.
The watchdogs over at GM Authority have uncovered a brand new submitting with the US Patent and Trademark Workplace (USPTO) printed 27MAY2025, underneath patent quantity US 12,312,107 B2.
The brand new GM patent describes a wise trailering system that makes use of a semi-autonomous electrical drone to assist inexperienced drivers handle their mixed towing rigs with a mixture of auto telematics and a complete array of cameras, radar, and LiDAR sensors which might be consistently monitoring the truck, the trailer, and the highway situations forward.
Greater than that, nonetheless, the drone system reportedly runs a sequence of security checks that new trailerers and RVers might not understand how – and even that they need to be doing. These embody checks to make sure that the trailer is correctly connected to the hitch, checking the trailer’s load stability for dealing with and security, and confirming that brake lights and switch indicators are functioning correctly.
Guardian angel drone
As soon as on the highway, the drone can comply with alongside, offering a stay video feed to remove blind spots whereas altering lanes. GM says the system may additionally alert the motive force if one thing is mistaken, like if the trailer is swaying an excessive amount of or if cargo has come free or shifted unexpectedly.
Lastly, the drone can fly immediately above the automobile and trailer rig, giving drivers the kind of overhead “360” view they could already be conversant in of their GM autos – however expanded to incorporate the trailer as properly. In idea, it’ll look one thing like this (beneath).
GM drone overhead view
There’s much more to this, with boat launching help, hitch steering, and different security angles, however you get the thought. This isn’t fairly the self-hitching, self-parking, Segway-like Airstream idea proven at CES 2022, however it’s positively a step in the proper path – particularly if, like me, you imagine that the easiest way to show somebody to understand nature is to get them out in it.
Tell us what you consider all this drone assisted high-tech driver help tech GM is engaged on within the feedback.
SOURCES: USPTO, by way of GM Authority; featured picture by way of ChatGPT.
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