Have you ever printed something via wifi and it works and you're like "ok, cool, I've set it up and it works" and then you don't change anything at all and you go to print and your computer is like "no sweat, we're definitely connected to the printer" and nothing prints, so you send more inputs and still nothing, so you take a break and then go to investigate and the printer is printing out 30 copies and you desperately try to cancel them but the printer keeps going like its on a mission from God?

That, but its a 6 ton trailer that's phantom driving 60 miles an hour.

not even considering all the techy computery things that can go wrong, the little towing dongle needs its own whole drivetrain, with an engine more powerful than the car, so that it can keep up while hauling a load, better brakes so it can stop quicker than the car while hauling a load, and automated steering system. it's like buying, and paying for gas for, a whole second car that's better than the car you already have, but without seats

I was like 90% sure it's a joke. It's not

Thankfully it was published 4 years ago and didn't seem to go anywhere in that time. Good.

Why did we skip past cool tech and go straight to idiocy.

Like if your car and trailer are connected physically and digitally that could be cool an enhance safety. A trailer that can respond and assist a hard brake? Cool. Wifi or digital connection goes down? Okay now it just works like a normal trailer.

But no that's too simple and it works

Guess they were so impressed with Homer’s car, they invited him to help design the tow hitch.

I've been waiting for this since the moment trucking companies announced the intention to go driverless. Gonna grab some popcorn and watch cyberpunk road pirates become a thing.

I own several wifi jammers, lets see how this works out

The wifi part is completely unnecesary, but powered wheeled trailers that assist "pull" is a clear benefit. Especially for camper trailers who need electricity to power life inside them. Solar+batteries also helps them power your primary home when they are parked. But a hitch, and wired "data" connection, is basic safety backup, and does not need a separate WIFI tow motor/vehicle.

It's going to be real interesting when there is a catastrophic power failure on the vehicle or trailer.

Hey you know how towing takes advantage of the crazy amount of extra torque car engines have to facilitate the insane driving people do to increase that efficiency? What if we got rid of that, gave you another thing you had to fill up, and you just have to pray the most recent patch doesn't make your trailer drive into a lake because it didn't know the ramp was closed

Would you pay extra for that?

This may be one of the worst ideas I’ve ever seen be greenlit

literally what's the point of that

Reads like a scene out of snow crash

You just established they in fact cannot catch you.

Given it's Toyota, did they think this was the option to give Priuses and such a tow option? It's clearly insane, but I could imagine the stupid use case being that (even though you could also just rent a truck for that move...)

Can't wait to hear about one of these things causing a 47-car pile up when the metal in a tunnel superstructure interferes with the Wi-Fi signal.

I wonder if hackers would ever just make them all drive to a chop shop if they don't crash on the way.

This would make a fun version between the games Traffic Racer and Snake.