Next-Gen Windshield Wipers To Be Based On Jet Fighter "Forcefield" Tech 237
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."
Or... (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Bugs and Dirt (Score:5, Informative)
I am curious as to how it will "fix" the bugs getting smeared on the windscreen.
Heck I've never found a set of windshield wipers that truly solves this problem. Usually they just end up smearing bug guts all over.
Re:Ice insects? (Score:2, Informative)
Nice comment, but that wasn't an Oxford comma, it was simply incorrect.
Article (incorrect): "to repel water, ice insects and other debris."
Standard comma: "to repel water, ice, insects and other debris."
Oxford comma: "to repel water, ice, insects, and other debris."
I should know, I'm at Oxford.
Re:What they didn't say... (Score:5, Informative)
I believe jets do indeed land at 10,000+ feet. There are 13 commercial airports with an altitude of 10,000 feet or higher. That's not including any military airports.
Re:Rain X (Score:4, Informative)
If pilots are doing 500+kts at altitudes reachable by grasshoppers, I'd be worried about the dents caused by trees. And small children.
You may have heard of locusts before. All a locust is is a grasshopper in its migratory phase. Many species of grasshopper can fly quite well.