REVscene Automotive Forum - Mclaren to do away with windshield wipers

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Mclaren to do away with windshield wipers

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1...dscreen-wipers

Quote:

Is McLaren about to do away completely with windshield wipers? According to comments made by the sports car manufacturer’s chief designer, that may just be the case.

Speaking recently with the Sunday Times (via CarsUK), Frank Stephenson said his employer is developing a system that can repel material from a windshield by creating a force field using high-frequency sound waves.

Such systems were originally created by the military for use on fighter jets.

Stephenson didn’t go into detail but explained that an ultrasonic transducer on the screen could send 30 kHz waves of ultrasound across the surface and repel all debris--even snow and insects.

Benefits of the system are said to be improved visibility, since debris would be repelled instantly, as well as improved aerodynamic efficiency, due to less drag. It would also mean no more days of having to remove ice from the windshield in northern climates, or at least that’s the thinking.

Unfortunately, there’s no word on when we might see the system fitted to one of McLaren’s cars. Note, this isn’t the first time Stephenson has mentioned the system. During a previous interview with YouTube channel Drive, Stephenson not only talked about wiper-less windshields but also color-changing exterior panels, glowing interiors and shape-changing memory materials.

The windscreen wiper has been around since 1903, and its basic design hasn’t changed much since. Coming up with the idea was inventor Mary Anderson, who saw the need for a ‘window cleaning device’ after she saw drivers sticking their heads out of the car to see where they were going during heavy rain.

Can't wait to see this type of technology trickle down to regular road going cars!
Posted via RS Mobile

can they create a forcefield to repel door dings? now that would be something!

Interesting.

Wondering what is the cost to integrate such a system into cars.

If it's low enough, and it will get lower once the tech takes off, then you might see it as an option on some cars, then as an included option for most cars further down the road.

Honda had a prototype system that used air from an air compressor having to run an air compressor all the time was impractical.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marshall Placid (Post 8383632)

If it's low enough, and it will get lower once the tech takes off, then you might see it as an option on some cars, then as an included option for most cars further down the road.

:derp: ......... Yes..... that's generally how technological advances have worked for thousands of years.

oh shit, if most cars are gonna have that technology, the government wont be happy...they can no longer do this

http://www.newsworks.org/images/stor...ng_600x400.jpg

^
unless they attach a sticker to your $200k car=p

im still waiting for the time when there's gonna be heat lasers to melt off/steam the rain/snow. now that'd would be sick as hell

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Stubbz (Post 8384000)

im still waiting for the time when there's gonna be heat lasers to melt off/steam the rain/snow. now that'd would be sick as hell

a wild defrost button appears

http://www.ledautomotive.com/HowToGu...ostPrySlot.JPG

that shit takes too long, aint nobody got time for that, im talking about a laser wipe across the screen, and technically with a laser you can clear the screen a lot faster than a physical one.

also, i dont get why more cars dont have subaru's heat strip thingy at where the windshield wipers stay

Or, you know... just park in a garage.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Stubbz (Post 8384000)

im still waiting for the time when there's gonna be heat lasers to melt off/steam the rain/snow. now that'd would be sick as hell

It's supposed to repel the rain & I would imagine most (all?) Mclaren owners won't be driving their car in the snow.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speed2K (Post 8384059)

It's supposed to repel the rain & I would imagine most (all?) Mclaren owners won't be driving their car in the snow.

well i mean that i want the laser thingy idea to replace windshield wipers as a whole, not instead of the mclaren vibrate system thing

Quote:

Originally Posted by J____ (Post 8383630)

can they create a forcefield to repel door dings? now that would be something!

or forcefield strong enough to repel idiots that ding other car's doors.

Hopefully by then I'll have bought one of my dream cars :thumbsup:

This technology would be amazing to have on both the McLarens, and all cars in general. I use to do a lot of driving between here and Kamloops, or here and the ski hills, and it would be nice not to have to go through so much washerfluid trying to see through all the dirt from snow

washing machine or windshield

which seat should I take?

Spoiler!

Quote:

Originally Posted by J____ (Post 8383630)

can they create a forcefield to repel door dings? now that would be something!

Actually Audi and VW have elastic metals for body panels, they are more tough against door dings than other cars.

The elastic metal makes the fender form back to shape to some extent, sooome extent.

Fck that shizzle... I gots Rain X.

My wipers haven't worked in months.