A full-face slipstream-driven version of this was being advertised in motorcycle magazines perhaps 25 years ago now (alongside cigar-like plastic tube thingies that allowed a rider to smoke while riding).

Never seen one for real; perhaps gyroscopic forces were a problem with the larger disk?

Posted at 7:28 am on Oct 23rd, 2008 by Roly

this method was also applied to circular wing mirrors keeping them free from rain drops.

Died out due to style and heaters being installed in the mirror.

The key problem with the disc really is its shape it doesn’t really lend itself well to most windscreen applications.

but could be intergrated into large windscreens.

I think a wiper is best!

But its a great proof of concept!

Posted at 7:37 am on Oct 23rd, 2008 by Grovenstien

already exists in non motorised version:
http://www.nickygrist.com/turbo-rain-visor-142-p.asp
my brother used one for his gokart competitions

Posted at 8:58 am on Oct 23rd, 2008 by v

Very cool, I like the passive one v posted, but $50 is a bit much!

A low resistance bearing and it should be able to spin just fine with some fins.

I wonder if this is legal on a car?

Posted at 9:41 am on Oct 23rd, 2008 by nubie

From the video, it seems that a quick application of RainX would have much more of an effect. Doesn’t waste any battery juice, either :)

Posted at 11:01 am on Oct 23rd, 2008 by Fry-kun

I had a rotating visor in the sixties, it was driven by small turbine blades cast into the periphery of the disk. It was very effective.

Posted at 4:02 pm on Oct 23rd, 2008 by walter venters

I think a small high pressure air pump would work. I usually just turn my head to clear my visor if I am riding in the rain. Ofcourse if you aren’t going fast enough it does absolutely nothing.

Posted at 4:05 pm on Oct 23rd, 2008 by motorider1

Turning your head does work… for almost a whole second if it’s really raining.

Besides, it’s not really the rain that’s causing the real problem for me, it’s the spray from other cars and especially trucks, because the drops are much smaller.

How about a clear plastic cylinder that rotates around your helmet? You’ll look like a retard, but it just might work.

Posted at 2:18 am on Oct 24th, 2008 by Sparky

Is there any way to accomplish this via electro-staic repulsion?

I’m imagining a helmet visor with a thin conductive layer on it, hooked up to a power supply. As a motorcycle engine is just a power-plant after all, so you should be able to run as many volts as you need.

Posted at 9:57 am on Oct 24th, 2008 by pragma

If its raining that bad you need to STOP driving. I know this comment does not help the project or anything but wet roads + motorcycle = wheelchair. It happens all too often.

Posted at 11:11 am on Oct 24th, 2008 by Neolin

@sparky – Love it! A sort of transparent Ned Kelly helmet driven by a Savonious rotor on top.

@pragma – theoretically; but the concept of trying to charge myself up to a zillion volts in the streaming rain, sitting on a petrol tank, well …

The other aspect is that this is also used in spray painting and powder coating to get even cover all over, so you may actually *attract* the raindrops. Ooops. ROFLMAO.

Seriously: I think the disk would be more effective (and look less stupid).

Posted at 6:56 am on Oct 25th, 2008 by Roly

I used to work at the same place as Andrew! Small world. Anyways, it’s a great idea. Here in Vancouver, we need advanced rain-shedding equipment!

On my motorcycle I just tilt my head, but I’m now going to make a pair of powered goggles for riding my bike. I hate the goggle fog and this thing should block rain, shed drops and have enough air circulation to avoid fogging.

Working on it right now, and I’ve now built about the same thing as Andrew (looks like we both found the same sized plastic scrap, heh. I need now one big enough to cover both eyes.)

The concept model works remarkably well at staying drop-free. I’m amazed this idea isn’t everywhere!

Posted at 1:51 pm on Oct 25th, 2008 by Rectifier

this is 100% useless why is this on hackaday like for example i have a dirt bike keyword dirt this is fucking useless in mud and when you dirt bike where are you in the f/u/c/k/i/n mud god damn morons like would it hurt to come up with something that’s actually useful really i said this before there’s a reason why you lame fags got hacked like why should we come to you guys for hacked when you got hacked hard you fags are so 1337 really we all know that you are a bunch of lamers trying to capitalize on the community LAMERZ

Posted at 3:48 am on Oct 26th, 2008 by jj jerksalot

you guys got no respect from the community you know that right?

Posted at 3:49 am on Oct 26th, 2008 by jj jerksalot

as for mud complaints. If you have a clean source of clear water sprayed onto the spinning disk-mud combo, it think it would wash off. Like the windsheild sprayer on your car.

Posted at 8:52 am on Oct 26th, 2008 by markps2