What Is The Tesla Cybertruck Exoskeleton?

One of many massive objects of hype across the Tesla Cybertruck when it was revealed 4 years ago was that it could have an exoskeleton. Earlier than we get to what that really means, let’s have 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 skin of the physique.” As a substitute of an inner 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 among the core supportive construction of the Cybertruck is seen on the skin. However we’ll get into extra element in a second when trying on the patent software for this.

Earlier than any of that, although, the explanation I’m writing about that is truly that I believed based mostly on current headlines that Tesla had ditched the Cybertruck exoskeleton thought. I used to be beginning to write about this massive change based mostly on reviews in the Wall Street Journal (by way of Notebook Check), after which I found these reviews appear to be improper. (Possibly.) The core declare is that “Latest spy pictures of their structural body parts on the Gigafactory in Texas didn’t whiff of exoskeleton. In reality, they merely appeared like sections produced by Tesla’s value saving gigacast method with help buildings and crumple zones that every one different autos bought within the US are constructed with.” In different phrases, this isn’t what some folks have been anticipating in relation to how the Cybertruck would look and be put collectively. Nevertheless, evidently what Elon Musk meant by “exoskeleton” remains to be what we’re getting.

Tesla filed a “Vehicle with Exoskeleton” patent software in May 2021. The summary of that patent software explains what the corporate means relating to 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 an extra help construction. At the very least one element could also be straight hooked up to the outside panel, and the outside panel could bear the load of the a minimum of one element. Strategies of producing the automobile are additionally described.”

So, yeah, the exoskeleton is there to offer extra security and is each a metal help construction and part of the truck’s exterior. Listed below are pics of the diagrams from the patent software:

That each one seems to be the identical, no?

The Wall Road Journal article about this claims that “sources accustomed to the matter” point out that the exoskeleton was dumped “a minimum of partly, to fulfill security requirements.” The one downside: 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 components that have been dropped or modified so as to fulfill security requirements and testing?

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