Robots are now removing illegally parked cars
Published on Jul 18, 2023 at 4:25 PM (UTC+4)
by Adam Gray
Last updated on Jul 19, 2023 at 1:06 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
It appears there’s no escaping justice if you park illegally.
It’s not only traffic wardens you have to keep an eye out for, now they’re enlisting the services of a robot tow rig to remove cars parked where they shouldn’t be.
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No, you don’t need to clean your glasses or rub your eyes; this is actually happening.
A video has been posted to Instagram showing a robot tow rig removing an illegally parked car in Liverpool, England.
The Volvo XC60 was parked in a spot reserved for people with a disability.
Presumably, the owner of the vehicle had overstayed their welcome, as a disabled plackard can be seen on the dash.
That’s when the robot tow rig was called into action, lifting all four of the SUV’s tires off the ground and moving it.
Upon closer inspection, the initials ‘RNW’ can be spotted on the robot tow rig.
After a little bit of digging, we found that the tank-tracked robot lifting the SUV belongs to a towing company called Recovery North West.
According to their website, they specialize in towing everything from stranded heavy equipment to recovering cars parked illegally.
The robot the company uses is called the Eastract, and it’s made by a French company called Multitract.
Clearly, it has one purpose: towing heavy objects in tight spots.
It does it using its tank tracks which allow it to make extremely tight maneuvers.
In order to lift heavy weight – up to 5,500 pounds apparently – it’s powered by a 35-horsepower Briggs and Stratton engine.
You can see in the video that the robot tow rig isn’t autonomous; there’s an operator wearing a hi-vis jacket using a remote control to operate it.
After picking it up, the robot tow rig then delivers the car to a nearby tow truck.
So, it’s official – it’s harder than ever to avoid the parking inspector.
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Adam Gray is an experienced freelance motoring journalist and content creator based in the United Kingdom. Using his media accreditation with manufacturers’ press offices, Adam test drives the latest cars and attends new vehicle press launches, producing written reviews and news pieces for a variety of lifestyle and business publications. Here at Supercar Blondie, Adam applies his journalistic skills penning social-first content around current news and trends. When he’s not behind the wheel of the latest car or writing up another viral story, Adam can be found at his local rink playing ice hockey or at the Riverside Stadium supporting his beloved Middlesbrough FC.
