Science & Technology

Windscreen wipers could soon be obselete

By T.K. Randall
December 16, 2013 ·  11 comments

Could this be the end for traditional wipers ? Image Credit: sxc.hu The new windscreen clearing mechanism is based on the use of sound waves to repel snow, rain and other substances from the windows. The technology has already been used in the military for fighter jets however the exact way in which it works continues to remain under wraps.

"It took a lot of effort to get this out of a source in the military," said chief designer Frank Stephenson. "I asked why you don't see wipers on some aircraft when they are coming in at very low speeds for landing. I was told that it's not a coating on the surface but a high frequency electronic system that never fails and is constantly active. Nothing will attach to the windscreen."In cars, the technology could remove the need for conventional wipers entirely by instead producing high frequency sound waves to clear any rain or debris from the glass. The system would make it easier to clear windscreens in freezing conditions and could also improve fuel economy.

"The windscreen wiper is an archaic piece of technology," said Stephenson. "We've had them since cars began and it's one of the last bastions of design to overcome."

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Tags: Car, Windscreen Wipers, McLaren