Wireless Device Lets You Monitor What You Tow

If you have ever towed a recreational vehicle, Jet Ski or camper on the highway, you know how difficult it is to know what is happening to the trailer behind you while you are driving. Jim Aid, president of Tattle-Trail, has created a product that can change that uncertainty by enabling drivers to monitor their trailers while driving.

The Tattle-Trail is a portable wireless towing monitor system designed to alert drivers to potential towing hazards. The system uses state-of-the-art technology to detect possible problems.

"The technology looks for motion or vibration," says Aid. "It has software that will detect patterns of vibrations and looks for unusual patterns that may indicate a problem. If the system detects a problem, it will notify the driver using wireless communication."

In addition to monitoring issues on the road, the system can be used as an anti-theft tool as well.

"You can take the receiver into a hotel room or your mobile home, and if someone messes with it, the alarm will be set off to let you know there is a problem," Aid says. "It gives you peace of mind."

Aid says inspiration for the product came from his own experiences towing boats while traveling to powerboat races with his friends. He and two other engineers came up with the idea to develop the monitoring system. Aid credits the Tampa Bay Innovation Center with bringing his product to market.

"We could never have done this project without them," Aid says. "They helped us with a facility to get started, but more importantly they gave us a mentoring group and a lot of guidance."

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Jim Aid, Tattle-Trail