A ‘ TRANSPARENT trailer’ is being developed by Land Rover to help drivers who tow.

The innovative system uses a series of cameras to display what is behind a vehicle.

The prototype technology combines a video feed from the vehicle’s existing surround camera system – which includes the reversing camera and a camera on each wing mirror – with images from a digital wireless camera that is placed on the rear of the trailer or caravan.

The video feeds are then combined to create the live video images that make the trailer behind appear see- through. When the trailer is coupled to the towing car, the live video feed would automatically appear in the rear view mirror inside the vehicle.

Demonstrated using a Range Rover hooked up to a horse box the cameras allows a driver to see vehicles approaching from behind and also improves visibility when moving.

As a further aid Land Rover is also experimenting with a monitoring system to check on the safety of cargo or livestock being carried.

The so- called Cargo Sense technology features a remote video camera inside a trailer and a mat of pressure sensors on the floor that both link wirelessly to the towing vehicle and warns of any movement that could present a hazard when towing.

The system can also be viewed remotely via a smartphone app enabling a horse owner, for example to be alerted via SMS if their animal becomes distressed or if the trailer is being tampered with.