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McLaren to Replace Windscreen Wipers with Jet Fighter-like System

Remember McLaren’s recent windscreen wiper recall for the 12C? Well, the Brits are now working to make the wipers go away. Frank Stephenson, the man leading McLaren's design offensive, recently told The Sunday Times that the company is developing a system which can repel material from a windshield via high-frequency sound waves.
McLaren 12C Spider 1 photo
Photo: original image by autoevolution
Stephenson didn’t explain too much about the development, but said that an an ultrasonic transducer on the screen would send 30 kHz waves of ultrasound all over the surface. This could repel anything standing in the way, insects and snow included.

The system would be more efficient than the wipers, since it would instantly clear the screen. What’s more, it would also improve aerodynamic efficiency, since any kind of wiper, even McLaren’s mono-arm unit, creates drag.

Windscreen wipers have been around since 1903, so perhaps it’s only natural that they are put to rest, especially on advanced vehicles. After all, just about every technical advance in the automotive world comes from aviation and McLaren’s effort is no exception - such systems have been used by fighter jets for quite a long time now.

By the way, Stephenson had previously mentioned the system in an interview for Drive. He also used the occasion to mention innovations such as materials that can change their shape and have a memory, as well as color-changing body panels.
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About the author: Andrei Tutu
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In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist.
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