McLaren Is Using Fighter Jet Technology for Wiper-free Windshields

[Cobb]

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[aerohead]

Hope it's fail-safe.

[oldtamiyaphile]

Don't most countries (including the UK) require a 'swept area'? I don't this is techincally legal.

[Superfuelgero]

In most USA states, its a "device for clearing the windshield, operable from the passenger compartment". On my formula vee that I had road legal, they accepted a dish rag since I could reach over the wind screen and wipe the whole thing.

[whostean]

Can I just crank up the bass and make the whole car rattle? lol

[markweatherill]

An ultrasonic system? Perhaps every McLaren fitted with this system will be pursued by a pack of dogs down the road.

But in the UK at least, I am sure there will have to be a mechanical wiper as well, to satisfy legislation. If this ever becomes reality for road cars, that is.

[arcosine]

It looks like the water is sticking to the window in the picture. It repels, but will it clean a dirty window after you park under a tree, how about frost and ice? A jet fighter goes hundreds of miles per hour, the wind pushes most of it off. iI probably works for light conditions instead of having the wipers on intermittent.

[elhigh]

Originally Posted by markweatherill

An ultrasonic system? Perhaps every McLaren fitted with this system will be pursued by a pack of dogs down the road.

But in the UK at least, I am sure there will have to be a mechanical wiper as well, to satisfy legislation. If this ever becomes reality for road cars, that is.

Infrasonic. It'll be pursued by a pack of elephants or, along the coast, whales.

[spacemanspif]

Sounds like super Rain-X that never wears off the windshield. Neat idea, but will the window shatter when it -30*F? Or are windows going to have be made out of lexan or other type of plastic? When sitting still in the rain with a fresh Rain-x'd windshield the rain does fall off quite nicely but most people I know have trouble with "focusing beyond the raindrops" and would quickly crash if they didn't have wipers sweeping away 3 spots of rain every 10 seconds

The sonic windshield would probably work better than rain-x at high speeds though, but the aero of the cars would have be reconsidered to ensure the water sweeps away quickly to maintain clear visibility. More raked windshield (water over the car) or more vertical with more curvature (water swept to side)?

We should all be jumping for joy, adapter kits won't be too far out and we can all buy them to make out wiper delete mods less "crazy"!!!

[Cobb]

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