Deploy Tractor Beam For Repo – Toyota’s Hitchless Towing (Video)

Imagine. You hop onto your fuel efficient, two wheeled repocycle and head to the RO’s last known address. You spot your target unit at the end of the cul-de-sac and pull over at the top of the street. You pull out your phone and ‘pair’ with the target unit, enter the override code provided from the lender, stow your phone and enjoy the ride back to your storage lot with the client’s collateral dutifully following closely behind you like a puppy.

Toyota is developing a new “towing” system that won’t need a hitch. Instead, as shown in a new video, it uses a vehicle’s sensors for one to closely follow another vehicle, like a trailer would. Toyota calls it “hitchless towing,” although the second vehicle is driving under its own power behind the first. The new system is a prototype, and likely won’t be in production soon, but it’s an interesting answer to a question nobody has asked yet.

Watch the video below for more details.