No More Windshield Wipers

[darylzero]

Apparently this is what fighter jets use. This would be very cool to see in action.

McLaren to replace windshield wipers with a force field of sound waves

Monday, December 16, 2013 4:28 PM GMT

Buy any car today, regardless of make, model, or cost, and they'll all have one thing in common: windshield wipers. They are a necessity, both by law and the fact you need them to be able to drive safely when it is raining. But if McLaren has its way, we could soon see cars that no longer require them.

McLaren is best known for its Formula One racing team, but it also produces performance sports cars. Having the odd novel feature does nothing to hurt sales, and it looks like in the next couple of years one of those features could be a lack of windshield wipers.

Frank Stephenson is McLaren's chief designer and has hinted at a new system to replace the wipers. It is thought to involve using ultrasound to send 30kHz waves across the windshield, which would keep it clear of any debris, even those really horrible insect remains that can build up and obstruct your view.

How does it stop such debris? By creating a force field that stops rain, snow, or insects ever reaching the windshield. If they can't touch it, then the glass will remain clean and clear.

A lack of wipers brings with it multiple benefits to the driver. For one, no wipers means less things to break, so no more regular wiper changes. You also aren't scraping rubber across glass repeatedly so the driver will always have a better view and the glass will require less cleaning. There's also thought to be a fuel saving, however small, due to the lack of wiper apparatus interfering with airflow over the vehicle. And the final benefit: total confusion for anyone trying to clamp a flyer underneath one of your wiper blades.

If the sound wave force field works as well as described, expect multiple car manufacturers to be licensing the tech from McLaren ASAP. It's a great feature with which to market a new vehicle, and one that will surely be offered with a hefty premium attached to the price.

[sx moneypit]

Here is some more info on this.
http://www.google.com/patents/WO2012095643A1

[Bubba1]

Interesting idea, especially since most million dollar exotic car owners don't normally drive them in bad weather. Thinking a bit more about it, I assume the system would only work while the engine is on. So I'm curious how effective it would be for things other than "rain droplets" that impact (or form on ) the windshield while the system is off like ice/sleet or bird poop.

[Dattebayo]

I want a stupidity force field to protect me from Virginia drivers.

[themadscientist]

Just run away. That's what I did.

Force field you say? You have my attention. Can I get a weapons package as well?

[gwoods]

And the final benefit: total confusion for anyone trying to clamp a flyer underneath one of your wiper blades.

They just jam them into the seam on the drivers door and the window.

[Looneybomber]

Reading briefly through the patent link, ultrasonic (I assume tactical) transducers on the windshield, but without sufficient wind to blow the water away... it looks like this wont be very effective when not moving or moving slowly, while in heavy rain.

[Looneybomber]

Meant tactile, but for some reason I can't go back and change the spelling.

[MinisterofDOOM]

I wonder if this "sonification" would be visible in less-than-perfect glass (cheap replacement windshields, or chipped or pitted windshields). Even if it's not overtly perceptible, fine visual distortions can really mess with your body's sense of orientation.
I'm also curious about the effects this could have on hairline cracks in the glass.
And then there's the issue of the cost of replacement glass. Remember buying a windshield for your early-'90s Nissan? Having to specify HUD or non-HUD? HUD glass was WAY more expensive. Even automatic wiper rain-sensor glass adds a lot of cost to windshield replacement versus as standard windshield.

If it provides superior clarity over wipers it might be worth the tradeoff. But the right set of wipers does a perfectly acceptable job in my experience. And $30 a pair every year or two is very hard to complain about.

And the final benefit: total confusion for anyone trying to clamp a flyer underneath one of your wiper blades.

They just jam them into the seam on the drivers door and the window.

Until I spot them, at which point they run in terror at the sight of a very tall man in all black howling obscenities and searching for something to throw at them.

The surest way to guarantee that I NEVER patronize your establishment is to leave a flyer on my car. If you can't respect my property, I can't be inclined to do business with you.

[float_6969]

My understanding of that was that the ultrasonic waves vaporize the precipitation. Think fog machine, ie;

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uC1Y02jKHVw[/youtube]

[Bubba1]

My understanding of that was that the ultrasonic waves vaporize the precipitation. Think fog machine, ie;

That's what I was thinking.

.
And then there's the issue of the cost of replacement glass. Remember buying a windshield for your early-'90s Nissan? Having to specify HUD or non-HUD? HUD glass was WAY more expensive. Even automatic wiper rain-sensor glass adds a lot of cost to windshield replacement versus as standard windshield.

.

A better way to look at this issue is if you're affluent enough and willing to pay over $1,000,000 for an exotic car, then paying more for a replacement windshield (than a more ordinary car) if one should ever require replacing, is not much of a concern.

[Dattebayo]

I'm pretty sure a big bucket of muddy water would ruin someone's day here. lol

[Looneybomber]

My understanding of that was that the ultrasonic waves vaporize the precipitation. Think fog machine, ie;

Fog machines and ultrasonic humidifiers work the same way, there is a metal plates that vibrates (transducer) that mechanically couples (tactile) with the water. It vibrates it at ultrasonic frequencies which excites the molecules enough to change states. So there would be ultrasonic tactile transducers vibrating the windshield which causes the water to vaporize. Now the problem as shown in that video, is that it can only vaporize so much water so fast. Once you increase water delta and decrease windspeed delta, water starts piling up on the windshield. Or, it stays submerged in a bowl of water.