Next-Gen Windshield Wipers To Be Based On Jet Fighter "Forcefield" Tech

cartechboy writes "It looks like the old-school windshield wiper is about to be replaced by new technology — but not until 2015. British car-maker McLaren is apparently developing a new window cleaning system that is modeled from fighter jet tech. The company isn't revealing exactly how it will work, but the idea comes from the chief designer simply asking a military source why you don't see wipers on jets as they land. Experts expect McClaren to use constantly active, high-frequency sound waves outside the range of human hearing that will effectively create a force field across a car's windshield to repel water, ice insects and other debris. Similar sound waves are used by dentists to remove plaque from teeth."

Ice insects?

[Anonymous Coward]

This wiper also keeps lions away.

Re:Impossible

[bondsbw]

I'm pretty sure that most tech involving sound waves is not developed in space.

Re:Ice insects?

[Scutter]

I know some journalists hate the Oxford Comma, but this is getting ridiculous,

Re:What happens when it can't keep up?

[hubie]

They forgot to mention that you need to be driving 500 mph for these to be most effective.

Re:Impossible

[Anonymous Coward]

In space, no one can hear you wipe

Re:What happens when it can't keep up?

[Bill, Shooter of Bul]

Solution: Don't drive a McClaren in those conditions. You'll just have to take the Bentley, or the Rolls Royce.

Howling dogs

[cyberfringe]

Is this why my dog howls when he drives my McClaren in the rain? I always thought he howled for the sheer fun of it!

Re:Compressed Air

[flaming error]

"The issue is always budgets, and the $1 here, $4 there for better components supposedly adds up ... Sometimes that is true, sometimes I want to...whack someone upside the head with a baseball bat."

While baseball bats may be suitable, we here in accounting will only approve the less expensive 1-meter steel pipe from Dai Yung Enterprises.

Combine it!

[Wdi]

For maximum effect, apply JP-8 and scorching hot exhausts simultaneously!

Re:What happens when it can't keep up?

[Capt.DrumkenBum]

Solution: Don't drive a McClaren in those conditions. You'll just have to take the Bentley, or the Rolls Royce.

You don't drive a Bentley or a Rolls Royce... Your chauffeur drives the Bentley or the Roller. So it doesn't matter how the windscreen is kept clean as you will be riding in back, far away from such irrelevancies.
As it should be.

Re:High power ultrasound?

[SJHillman]

Teenagers are programmed to only hear things that have been turned up to 11.

Re:High power ultrasound?

[MightyYar]

Oh, man, like brown noise. I hope this thing makes dogs shit all over everything.

Oh, wait.

Re:Ice insects?

[jellomizer]

Can it be adjusted by turning a knob. So if it is raining really hard I can divert power from the AC to the Shields.

Re:Or...

[jandrese]

You probably won't notice the rain distortion so much if your windshield always makes the world look like a softcore porn shoot.

Re:What happens when it can't keep up?

[Bill_the_Engineer]

I ride in a Bentley that is towed by a chauffeur driven Rolls Royce.

Re:Impossible

[SleazyRidr]

Especially when it's been hit by an ice insect from outer space...

Re:High power ultrasound?

[Zynder]

Sorry guy. I made that joke to my teens and they didn't get it. See the world has moved on and inflation is a real bitch. 11 just isn't good enough anymore. To get a reaction out of kids these days, it better be OVER 9000! or they won't even raise an eyebrow. Why the hell are they still on my lawn?