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."

What happens when it can't keep up?

[Monty845]

What happens when its raining heavily, and a vehicle going the other way hits a puddle, and dumps a massive wave of water on your windshield? What happens when its full inch of heavy slush? I'd say its a nice addition on top of regular wipers, but I'm very skeptical about replacing them.

Re:Not the plaque cleaner, please!

[gstoddart]

Um, I hear those sound waves just fine (high frequency sensitive). My dentist had to give up using it on me.

You may not actually be hearing the sound waves themselves, but the harmonics they create inside of your skull/jawbone/ear.

I can hear them too, but I've more or less concluded that, like everything else in a dentist office, it's temporary and the benefits outweigh the nuisance.

I hate the sound, but it seems less problematic than the medieval tools they use otherwise.

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

[Blakey Rat]

What happens when every time a new invention is announced Slashdotters continually come up with edge cases, apparently assuming that the inventors are fucking idiots who didn't think of that instead of that the article just didn't mention it! What happens when they're always modded to +5! What happens then OMG!