Fioravanti makes wiperless windshield...

Very interesting... Fioravanti, again with Pininfarina has made a nanotech windshield that uses, and needs, no wipers... pretty cool if it actually works... Wonder if we'll see this on an F-Car in the future, I'd guess so - given the players involved and past history with Ferrari.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/24/wiperless-windshields-in-your-future-thanks-nanotech/

 

I think that after 100 years , it's about time to be rid of wiper blades, I'm glad to see it.
What could be more primitive than dragging a stick across a windshield.
Oh, Prop Rods are another brilliant invention, replace a hood or trunk spring that lasts forever, with a stick, or a shock that wears out in 5 years or less.
What happened to the great engineers ?

 

Great, so instead of $3000 for a Ferrari windscreen they'll cost...

 

Squirting flammable fluid into a cylinder and igniting it with a spark like we've been doing for over a hundred years.

 

we'll always need wipers for all the other crude - bugs, mud, salt and so forth that just needs a good rinse and wipe.

 

The first layer protects from sun and repels water, the second layer features "nano-dust" to push dirt to the edges of the windshield and is activated by the third layer which senses the dirt, while the whole kit is powered by the fourth layer which conducts electricity to keep it going.

I guess they have a solution for the "dirt" aswell though. Although i suppose it depends on how hard that bug hit's your windshield.

 

I cannot remember his name, but the guy who takes his wipers off his cars, and has a lovely black 2005 f430 will like this.

Cool stuff

 

So what we really need are the revolving strips that guarantee a clean view - ala a race cam lens strip that replaces the dirty lens cover with a clean one. St Gobains are you listening?

 

What about snow or ice?

If there is a pile of snow on the window, will it just slide off? I doubt it, no matter how slick the surface is, just like any part of a car. The snow stays on it.

If there is a sheet of ice, or it's frozen onto the window, if I use the defogger, will it just slide off? What if I don't have enough time, and want to just clear a small area with the wipers?

 

which layer takes care of the bird ****?

i'll stick with rain-x

 

It sounds good, but does it actually work in a real life situation, AND how long before that system breaks? How well would it remove a foot of snow after your truck sat outside all night in the down fall??

 

5 years before this will be commercially viable.

guess I can postpone worrying about this. Heck, I may not even be alive in 5 years. LOL