HackerTube.dev

The simple, clever sensor behind automatic windshield wipers

Technology Connections · 1.8M views · 2024-04-29 · 11:18

Open on YouTube ↗

If playback is restricted in your region, try opening the original video. Use Mark watched to add it to your marked videos.

Overview

Technology Connections explains how automatic windshield wiper rain sensors work, using an infrared light source and total internal reflection in the glass.

On Hacker News

Brought up in Tesla auto-wiper threads as the clear explanation of how simple conventional rain sensors work.

Recommended by 2 HN people across 2 months · HN mentions 2024–2026

Topics

Cars, EVs & motorcyclesEveryday physics & science demosElectronics & circuit design
Search by tags
windshield wiperstotal internal reflectioninfrared sensorteslacar technology

What people said

tzs · 2026-01 · Recommendation

> The parking sensors basically don't work at all due to being vision only - and apparently can't be made to work properly What's stupid about this is that it is hard to come up with a good reason for it. The no LIDAR thing is at least understandable because at the time LIDAR was very expensive. Ultrasonic parking sensors are cheap. Same for automatic windshield wipers, which have been a significant source of complaints from Tesla owners. Pretty much everyone else uses a dedicated sensor that is simple and inexpensive and works well. Technology Connections has a good video on how it works [1]. Tesla uses vision. [1] [VIDEO]

Read the original HN comment ↗
Stratoscope · 2024-05 · Recommendation

For anyone curious, Technology Connections has a good video on how traditional automobile rain sensors work: [VIDEO]

Read the original HN comment ↗
gcanyon · 2025-09 · Reference

The wiper system has nothing to do with self-driving -- it's based on total internal reflection in the glass: [VIDEO]

Read the original HN comment ↗

Sources

Video by Technology Connections, played through YouTube.

Data and selection notes

HN summaries and labels may contain AI errors. HN dates refer to discussions, not video publication.

HN Library: HackerTube export (2026-10-31) and open-index/hacker-news. Upstream summaries and classifications may contain AI errors.

Views, duration and playback status refresh separately from the published catalog. When an update fails, existing data remains visible.

Selection checks
  • SaaS & AI candidates: Topic keywords do not match
  • Editor-approved picks: Editorial review is required

Rule matches identify candidates. They do not guarantee video quality or financial results.

About the library and its sources