KING KONG cybertruck wiper not very futuristic...here is how to produce the look this trucks deserves...

[Jhodgesatmb]

The "valley" is what I meant with "step" in the above comments. With the linear wiper design in the Tesla patent the wiper moves "linear" in one dimension accross the screen, it does not rotate around an axle in two dimensions. That means the linear wiper would remain vertical while in operation and also whilst stowed parralel to the vehicle a-pillar, and would not rotate around to "stow" in the valley between the frunk and windscreen, which it currently also doesn’t have.

Technically it could be one or two as described, but each would stow vertically either side.

At least in the patent application, or a discussion i read somewhere, the blade rotated down and wasn't stowed paralled to the a pillar. Clearly on the prototype it wasn't like that, but that was a traditional wiper and not the electromagnetic one. No matter how the wiper is stowed the guide rail has to be permanent and probably parallel to the bottom of the windshield.

Given that the primary argument against the traditional system is the number of parts it seems unlikely that they would use two wipers.

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[Jhodgesatmb]

But that is in the frunk? Why would there be a firewall?

-Crissa

I suspect that a 'firewall' to the cabin is required by law, whether it is still called a firewall or not. The cabin has to be a protection zone on all sides. I would look it up on the NHTSA site but that place is very difficult to find anything in.

By the way, the frunk is only that portion of the volume under the hood where you can store things. Many other things are going on there, such as wiper fluid reservoirs, HVAC filters, access to the low-voltage battery, etc., not to mention the front suspension, motors,and related hardware.

 

[JBee]

At least in the patent application, or a discussion i read somewhere, the blade rotated down and wasn't stowed paralled to the a pillar. Clearly on the prototype it wasn't like that, but that was a traditional wiper and not the electromagnetic one. No matter how the wiper is stowed the guide rail has to be permanent and probably parallel to the bottom of the windshield.

Given that the primary argument against the traditional system is the number of parts it seems unlikely that they would use two wipers.

My logic keeping the blade vertical is simply that the wiper can be either mechanically attached (thru a slim slit between the frunk and windscreen and at the top on the apex) or magnetically with the linear motor accross the windscreen, or a hybrid of both. This will have a lesser number of parts, just bigger ones.

Note if the wiper remains vertical at all times it will move horizontally through the guide rail and if attached top and bottom of the windscreen can have considerably less structural elements and visually disappear on the a pillar. All without the need for a wiper valley.

 

[Crissa]

Elon calls every under the hood stow 'in the frunk'. It's not an engine bay, right?

-Crissa

 

[jerhenderson]

Back in 1968 GM make a futuristic looking car... the 68 Corvette with disappearing wipers! I have a 69 Vett and love the way the cool narrow wiper cowl behind the back of the hood works. Its conceals the wipers until the wiper switch is turned on and the cowl comes up revealing two wipers that starts wiping the window... wipers even has the spraying fluid feature!

Now, 53 years after the cool concealed wipers, the Cybertruck needs just enough wiper to clean the view of driver and passenger... not a 30 sq ft cleaning monster that look so 1900's...an eyesore yuk...yes, I said yuk not on my futuristic truck! Remember the Cybertruck is a clean looking "state of the art" EV full of cool tricks... the wipers will have to be one more Tesla trick to get it right!

that's a terrible feature anywhere that gets winter.

 

[Tinker71]

What's wrong with penetrating the window with a standard wiper motor and staging the wipers vertically? It could be lower profile than the mono linear design. Certainly more conventional parts and will help with cycle time.

It would be really hard to make a $40k truck with a $2k wiper.

I wonder why they felt the need to wipe the greyed out area? That is a lot torque to overcome for an area not required for road visibility.

Being from Utah I am concerned about this detail for overcoming ice and snow. If Elon is worried, I am worried.

 

[Throwcomputer]

The "valley" is what I meant with "step" in the above comments. With the linear wiper design in the Tesla patent the wiper moves "linear" in one dimension accross the screen, it does not rotate around an axle in two dimensions. That means the linear wiper would remain vertical while in operation and also whilst stowed parralel to the vehicle a-pillar, and would not rotate around to "stow" in the valley between the frunk and windscreen, which it currently also doesn’t have.

Technically it could be one or two as described, but each would stow vertically either side.

So your suggestion makes me think of it being a magnetic blade arm outside with a magnet arm movement mechanism inside the cab behind the glass at the top and bottom of windshield? Kinda like an aquarium magnet scraper with the outside "blade" being the scraper inside the aquarium, and the movement mechanism inside the cab being your hand moving the magnet on the outside of the aquarium in this analogy. Then it stays vertical and just swipes back and forth while staying perfectly vertical.

This could work.

It could also make for interesting and easier blade rubber swapping. Just pull the outside blade magnet arm off completely.. swap the rubber wiper blade.. and put the whole magnet arm back on in its default position. Granted it would need some strong magnetism to not be easily lost.. which means potential damage to the windshield when removed/reinstalled as it will get pulled out of your hand snapping onto the glass to mate with its interior magnet. Unless of course its electrically controlled magnet that you can press a button to deactivate for maintenance!

I think I just solved their problem. Where's my reward? I'll take a quad motor free!

 

[Crissa]

that's a terrible feature anywhere that gets winter.

Why? Because it's better to have your wipers frozen outside in the ice?

-Crissa

 

[JBee]

So your suggestion makes me think of it being a magnetic blade arm outside with a magnet arm movement mechanism inside the cab behind the glass at the top and bottom of windshield? Kinda like an aquarium magnet scraper with the outside "blade" being the scraper inside the aquarium, and the movement mechanism inside the cab being your hand moving the magnet on the outside of the aquarium in this analogy. Then it stays vertical and just swipes back and forth while staying perfectly vertical.

This could work.

It could also make for interesting and easier blade rubber swapping. Just pull the outside blade magnet arm off completely.. swap the rubber wiper blade.. and put the whole magnet arm back on in its default position. Granted it would need some strong magnetism to not be easily lost.. which means potential damage to the windshield when removed/reinstalled as it will get pulled out of your hand snapping onto the glass to mate with its interior magnet. Unless of course its electrically controlled magnet that you can press a button to deactivate for maintenance!

I think I just solved their problem. Where's my reward? I'll take a quad motor free!

Thats the general idea. The difference is that the wiper has the magnet built in and the windscreen has a linear electric motor built in that drives the blade accross to wipe, and holds it magnetically while its operational.

Then in the stowed position it can have electronically activated electropermennt magnet, where you can switch its magnetic state with a pulse, rather than having to hold it with a current through a electromagnet. This will save power, and would allow you to switch it off with the Tesla app to replace the wiper. There's also an option to have a slit as well to mechanically retain it either top or bottom or both. The linear motor would then only drive it.

 

[Throwcomputer]

Thats the general idea. The difference is that the wiper has the magnet built in and the windscreen has a linear electric motor built in that drives the blade accross to wipe, and holds it magnetically while its operational.

Then in the stowed position it can have electronically activated electropermennt magnet, where you can switch its magnetic state with a pulse, rather than having to hold it with a current through a electromagnet. This will save power, and would allow you to switch it off with the Tesla app to replace the wiper. There's also an option to have a slit as well to mechanically retain it either top or bottom or both. The linear motor would then only drive it.

I think we are suggesting the same exact thing. Except in my version.. the mechanism is inside the cab at the top and bottom of the window (probably covered by interior trim so you never even see it). The outside mechanism is just a holder for the magnet and the wiper rubber. This way they don't have to drastically alter the exterior design at all. And in my idea.. its resting position is just flush with the a pillar atop the glass, not stowed in any retractable way.

 

[JBee]

I think we are suggesting the same exact thing. Except in my version.. the mechanism is inside the cab at the top and bottom of the window (probably covered by interior trim so you never even see it). The outside mechanism is just a holder for the magnet and the wiper rubber. This way they don't have to drastically alter the exterior design at all. And in my idea.. its resting position is just flush with the a pillar atop the glass, not stowed in any retractable way.

Yep same same. So the only outside structure would be a peice of rubber with steel reinforcement to keep its shape and apply even pressure over the blade. It would be fairly flat and would stow on either side on the blacked out part of the glass on either a-pillar.

It would only be attached by either the electromagnetic linear motor whilst moving or the electropermenant magnet in the stowed position, which could in turn be quite strong and work accross the entire wiper length and not allow anyone to remove it by hand. The linear motor would only be in the top and bottom blacked out area of the windscreen.

 

[Throwcomputer]

Yep same same. So the only outside structure would be a peice of rubber with steel reinforcement to keep its shape and apply even pressure over the blade. It would be fairly flat and would stow on either side on the blacked out part of the glass on either a-pillar.

It would only be attached by either the electromagnetic linear motor whilst moving or the electropermenant magnet in the stowed position, which could in turn be quite strong and work accross the entire wiper length and not allow anyone to remove it by hand. The linear motor would only be in the top and bottom blacked out area of the windscreen.

We are in agreement and saying the same thing. Musk.. we both get a quad motor free for this solution as fee for our design labor.

 

[JBee]

Another idea for winter use would be to periodically let the windscreen wiper operate whilst parked outside to clear water and snow that it doesn't have any material on there to freeze and then defrost in the morning. Will use less energy than running the heat pump to defrost the windscreen, or to run the built in windscreen heating.

In fact some sort of safety lockout will be required so it doesn't detach itself when the ice is to thick to operate. This could be a field measurement through the linear drive controller.

 

[jerhenderson]

Why? Because it's better to have your wipers frozen outside in the ice?

-Crissa

because any sort of mechanical cover to deploy a concealed wiper device would be frozen over in ice. ... unless that entire mechanism was heated.

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