Skip to main content

Toyota patents a device that could make car pillars transparent

Modern cars have thick roof pillars that help make their bodies stronger and more crash resistant, but also negatively impact visibility. Toyota may have found a solution to this problem, one that at first glance seems like witchcraft.

A recent Toyota North America filing with the U.S. patent office uncovered by The Drive describes “apparatuses and methods for making an object appear transparent.” This technique would be applied to a car’s pillars, making them appear invisible. That would allow drivers to simply look through pillars instead of around them, improving safety.

Recommended Videos

The subject of the patent filing doesn’t really render car parts invisible, it only makes them appear invisible. It would use a series of strategically placed mirrors to bend light around an object, allowing the driver to see what is on the other side. While the driver would appear to be looking through a solid pillar, they would actually be looking around it.

A setup like this is especially relevant right now, given current trends in car design. Along with the aforementioned thicker pillars meant to improve safety, many new cars feature lower rooflines with steeply raked windshields, both to improve aerodynamics and create a more stylish look. These elements bring certain benefits, but they all hinder visibility.

Toyota may be looking at the theoretical possibilities of mirrors, but the actual solution it and other automakers seem to be relying on is tech. Just as cars have gotten harder to see out of, they have sprouted a dizzying array of backup cameras, park-assist systems, and other tech meant to keep drivers from running into things. These systems can be pretty effective, but simply being able to see where you are going is probably the best answer.

So will drivers soon be able to see around roof pillars using mirrors? Don’t count on it just yet. As with all patent filings, this one is merely a confirmation that the idea is original, not that it will work. Toyota may have filed for a patent just to claim the idea, and might not have any intention of putting its “invisible” pillars into any future production cars.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Waymo recalled 1,200 robotaxis following collisions with road barriers
Waymo Jaguar I-Pace

Waymo’s autonomous-car technology has made great advances over the years to the point where it’s now allowed to offer paid robotaxi rides in select locations in the U.S.

But the development of the technology is ongoing, and the robotaxi rides continue to gather valuable data for Waymo engineers to pore over as they further refine the driverless system to make it as reliable and efficient as possible. Which is why glitches will sometimes occur.

Read more
Apple CarPlay Ultra looks stunning in Aston Martin supercar debut
Apple CarPlay Ultra

Apple CarPlay Ultra is the next generation of the Cupertino, California-based firm's smartphone projection system for your car, and it's available in new vehicles in the US and Canada.

When we say "new cars", your options are very much limited to one brand... Aston Martin. So you'll need deep pockets if you want to experience CarPlay Ultra for yourself.

Read more
Archer’s flying taxis head to LA for the 2028 Olympics
archer air taxi la28 inglewood aerial a final

Remember the buzz about flying taxis zipping through Paris for the 2024 Olympics? That sci-fi fantasy never got off the ground —Germany’s Volocopter dream was denied certification, leaving fans staring at the same old ground traffic. But now, the skies are opening again for a second shot at glory—this time over Los Angeles.
Archer Aviation, the California-based electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) company, has been named the exclusive air taxi provider for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Archer’s Midnight aircraft, a piloted electric air taxi designed to carry four passengers, will be whisking around VIPs, fans, and stakeholders between venues and key locations like LAX, Hollywood, Santa Monica, and even Orange County. Think 10-20 minute flights that skip the infamous LA gridlock and land you right where the action is—on the roof, basically.
“We want to transform the way people get around Los Angeles and leave a legacy that shapes the future of transportation in America. There’s no better time to do that than during the LA28 Games,” said Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer Aviation.
And Midnight isn’t just a pretty rotor. It’s a whisper-quiet, emission-light aircraft with 12 rotors and a redundant, airline-level safety design.
What’s more, Archer and LA28 are working together to electrify vertiport hubs around the city—think futuristic sky stations—to serve not only Games-time needs but also to plant seeds for a post-Olympic air mobility network.
The air mobility market has been fast developing over the past few years, featuring the likes of Hyundai partnership with China’s XPeng HT Aero and Toyota's backing of Joby Aviation, a U.S. venture. Joby bought Uber Elevate in 2020, hoping to someday pair its air taxis with Uber’s ride-hailing app.
Archer, for its part, has been busy building a strategic partnership with United Airlines, which has already placed orders for the aircraft and is helping with logistics to integrate air taxis into airport-to-downtown travel. More than a demo for the cameras, the LA28 partnership will showcase urban air travel for real-world daily use, starting with one of the most high-profile events on Earth.
After raising false hopes in Paris, the air taxi dream is aiming for liftoff in LA—and this time, it might just stick the landing.

Read more