The theoretical use case is for cars without the capacity to tow. Either due to engine power, or lack of a tow ball. Effectively, it’s a small, self driving vehicle, that can tow. It just follows close behind your care, and so needs far less in the way of navigation capabilities.
It’s a stupidly small niche however. Anyone who could justify and afford one could do far better just by hiring a driver and tow vehicle.
I mean, if the problem is lack of power, so the tow vehicle has it’s own motor, couldn’t you just have the same tow vehicle setup connected to the back of the car, using it’s motor to cancel out the extra load on the main vehicle without a potentially risky wireless connection?
I could see it working similar to surge brakes on trailers, a sprung mechanism with sensors that would accelerate when stretched and regen braking when compressed.
or, hear me out now, we put a passenger compartment and driver controls on the vehicle capable of towing and leave the car at home. why reinvent the wheel when rental trucks exist here and now?
That’s not even mentioning that you can get hitch receivers that you attach to just about every car out there. Hell even back in the 50s it was common place to see a sedan with a tow hitch. Unless you’re driving a car that struggles to carry itself up a hill the only thing stopping you from putting a hitch on a Prius or Challenger is your willingness to buy a receiver hitch and bolt it to the frame.
Given the likely pricetag, you’re talking luxury cars and upwards. The owners don’t want a tow ball ruining their car’s look. They might also want to avoid the additional strain on the engine. I’m not sure how high end cars deal with low speed high torque situations, but I doubt Porsche does much testing with towing in mind.
The theoretical use case is for cars without the capacity to tow. Either due to engine power, or lack of a tow ball. Effectively, it’s a small, self driving vehicle, that can tow. It just follows close behind your care, and so needs far less in the way of navigation capabilities.
It’s a stupidly small niche however. Anyone who could justify and afford one could do far better just by hiring a driver and tow vehicle.
I mean, if the problem is lack of power, so the tow vehicle has it’s own motor, couldn’t you just have the same tow vehicle setup connected to the back of the car, using it’s motor to cancel out the extra load on the main vehicle without a potentially risky wireless connection?
You and your logic…
I could see it working similar to surge brakes on trailers, a sprung mechanism with sensors that would accelerate when stretched and regen braking when compressed.
I like the idea.
or, hear me out now, we put a passenger compartment and driver controls on the vehicle capable of towing and leave the car at home. why reinvent the wheel when rental trucks exist here and now?
That’s not even mentioning that you can get hitch receivers that you attach to just about every car out there. Hell even back in the 50s it was common place to see a sedan with a tow hitch. Unless you’re driving a car that struggles to carry itself up a hill the only thing stopping you from putting a hitch on a Prius or Challenger is your willingness to buy a receiver hitch and bolt it to the frame.
Given the likely pricetag, you’re talking luxury cars and upwards. The owners don’t want a tow ball ruining their car’s look. They might also want to avoid the additional strain on the engine. I’m not sure how high end cars deal with low speed high torque situations, but I doubt Porsche does much testing with towing in mind.