In an eye-popping move, Tesla has filed a patent for a car-mounted laser system that will vaporize debris and replace the windshield wipers on their electric vehicles (EVs). These pulsing lasers will also be used to clean glass, including the glass protecting cameras used for advanced driver-assistance systems such as Tesla Autopilot and Tesla Enhanced Autopilot.
The Tesla patent filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is basically for a system that uses invisible laser beams to clean the glass surfaces on Tesla EVs.
The Tesla patent application says this laser system will use cameras to detect debris on the windshield, side windows, rear windows and camera lenses around the car that are part of the Tesla Autopilot system. A laser will fire on, or "irradiate" the debris, burning it off the windshield and other glass surfaces. The patent describes pulsing the laser at a calibrated rate in order to do so.
To protect passengers from the dangers posed by the laser, the windshield glass will be coated with an indium tin oxide film to ensure that the beam doesn't penetrate the glass. The protective film will also prevent damage to materials and components inside the interior of the EV.
Tesla also says the lasers might be used to clean the surfaces of the solar panels ir produces. Any object such as dust or plastics that block sunlight from reaching a solar panel reduces the amount of electricity the panel produces, hence the need to ensure clean panel surfaces.
Tesla included an illustration depicting the placement of its laser system around an EV. The illustration shows a Tesla Model S with lasers mounted on the hood, fender, and B-pillar. The latter will be used to clean the side-facing cameras.
Experts noted the laser system is so revolutionary it might be impractical. The problems this system will have to hurdle are immense. And, of course, there's the people safety issue.
Tesla's car laser technology will also have to prove it's reliable, affordable and an improvement over existing technology -- in this case windshield wipers and the good old soapy sponge and squeegee used to clean windows.
Experts also said that even if Tesla is awarded a patent by the USPTO, this won't mean this overkill technology will be used on future Tesla EVs such as the Tesla Model Y SUV or Tesla Cybertruck, or retrofitted onto existing models such as the Tesla Models S, 3 and X.
