One of many large objects of hype across the Tesla Cybertruck when it was revealed 4 years in the past was that it will have an exoskeleton. Earlier than we get to what that really means, let’s take a look at the usual definition of an exoskeleton. From the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, an exoskeleton is: “a tough supporting or protecting construction (as of an insect, spider, or crustacean) on the surface of the physique.” As a substitute of an inside skeleton such as you and I’ve, it’s an exterior skeleton.
So, what does that imply with regard to vehicles and vans, and particularly the Tesla Cybertruck? Theoretically, that will imply that a number of the core supportive construction of the Cybertruck is seen on the surface. However we’ll get into extra element in a second when trying on the patent utility for this.
Earlier than any of that, although, the explanation I’m writing about that is really that I believed primarily based on latest headlines that Tesla had ditched the Cybertruck exoskeleton thought. I used to be beginning to write about this large change primarily based on studies in the Wall Road Journal (through Pocket book Test), after which I found these studies appear to be fallacious. (Possibly.) The core declare is that “Current spy photographs of their structural physique components on the Gigafactory in Texas didn’t whiff of exoskeleton. The truth is, they merely appeared like sections produced by Tesla’s value saving gigacast technique with help constructions and crumple zones that each one different autos offered within the US are constructed with.” In different phrases, this isn’t what some folks have been anticipating in terms of how the Cybertruck would look and be put collectively. Nonetheless, it appears that evidently what Elon Musk meant by “exoskeleton” remains to be what we’re getting.
Tesla filed a “Automobile with Exoskeleton” patent utility in Could 2021. The summary of that patent utility explains what the corporate means concerning this time period: “A automobile having an exoskeleton exterior panel that gives crash resistance is described. The outside panel could also be shaped from a monolithic metallic sheet and hooked up to an exterior portion of the automobile body, and the outside panel doesn’t comprise a further help construction. Not less than one part could also be immediately hooked up to the outside panel, and the outside panel could bear the load of the a minimum of one part. Strategies of producing the automobile are additionally described.”
So, yeah, the exoskeleton is there to supply extra security and is each a metal help construction and part of the truck’s exterior. Listed here are pics of the diagrams from the patent utility:
That each one appears the identical, no?
The Wall Road Journal article about this claims that “sources conversant in the matter” point out that the exoskeleton was dumped “a minimum of partially, to fulfill security requirements.” The one drawback: so far as we are able to inform, the exoskeleton remains to be there and is a part of the structural help of the Cybertruck. If we’re lacking one thing, although, tell us! Possibly there have been sure design parts that have been dropped or modified as a way to fulfill security requirements and testing?
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