What car maker has patented laser windshield wipers?

Are you even surprised?

Tesla really likes to do some out-of-the-box thinking. Remember when the car maker decided to make a truck, but it was unlike any truck we’d seen before? Well, Tesla is nothing if not consistent in that regard. It reportedly just received approval on a patent for laser windshield wipers.

While this doesn’t necessarily mean that the tech will ever make it to production, it does mean that Tesla has thought about it enough that they don’t want anyone else to potentially beat them to the punch.

According to the patent, the system would use “debris detection circuitry” to monitor the vehicle and determine if there are any debris buildups that could hinder its or the driver’s ability to operate. Laser beams would then be directed at the trouble spot with a specifically calibrated duration and intensity to eliminate the debris without harming the vehicle or its occupants.