Off-road adventurers and workers often face tough terrain. Now, a big name in vehicles, Toyota, is looking at a new way to help. The company recently shared plans to develop a system using small drones. These tiny aircraft would help drivers of off-road vehicles, especially on unpaved roads and trails.
This project came to light because of new U.S. rules. In August, the U.S. Department of Transportation suggested changes. These changes would make it easier to fly drones beyond a driver’s direct sight. Toyota then submitted comments to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In its comments, Toyota mentioned its ongoing, previously secret, drone work.
The Japanese car maker explained its plans in the FAA document. The goal is to give drivers a better view of their surroundings. This is especially helpful in places where it’s unsafe to get out of the car. Drones could show images of the area. This includes dangers around and even under the vehicle.
Toyota stated, “By providing the driver with images of the local environment, including potential hazards around and under the vehicle, drivers can plan safer routes and improve vehicle operations.” The company also noted that operators might fly a drone above tree lines. This would help them get video to understand the area or map the land. Most drone flights, however, would stay close to the vehicle, as reported by Reuters.
Toyota aims to offer a new way for vehicles to operate on tough, unpaved terrain. Despite the excitement, a Toyota spokesperson was careful with their words. They said the company is “constantly working on new technologies in various fields.” But they do not have “any product plans to announce at this moment.”
The World’s First Integrated Car-Drone System
Toyota’s project doesn’t have any public designs yet. Still, it brings to mind another big partnership announced in March this year. That news involved BYD, a car maker, teaming up with drone expert DJI. Together, they created an innovative system to put drones right into vehicles.
This new technology was already available in mainland China. It was set to boost the use of smart car-drone systems on a large scale. Their system, called Lingyuan, fully connects the vehicle and the drone. It can be used in BYD models and also in its sub-brands.
The Lingyuan system features the world’s first smart landing platform for drones. It includes special drone positioning tools. It also has cameras built into the car’s roof and custom handles that do two jobs at once.