Speedometer

For broader coverage of this topic, see Speed measurement.
Speedometer
A modern speedometer in a Toyota Corolla
ClassificationGauge
Industry Automotive
ApplicationSpeed measurement
InventorJosip Belušić
Invented1888 (136 years ago) (1888)
An animation of an electronic Aston Martin speedometer's self-test routine, showing how an analogue speedometer hand may indicate the vehicle's speed
A Ford speedometer, showing both mph (outer) and km/h (inner), as well as an odometer in miles
A digital, LCD speedometer in a Honda Insight

A speedometer or speed meter is a gauge that measures and displays the instantaneous speed of a vehicle. Now universally fitted to motor vehicles, they started to be available as options in the early 20th century, and as standard equipment from about 1910 onwards.[1] Other vehicles may use devices analogous to the speedometer with different means of sensing speed, eg. boats use a pit log, while aircraft use an airspeed indicator.

Charles Babbage is credited with creating an early type of a speedometer, which was usually fitted to locomotives.[2]

The electric speedometer was invented by the Croat Josip Belušić[3] in 1888 and was originally called a velocimeter.

  1. ^ Harris, William (10 July 2007). "How Speedometers Work". auto.howstuffworks.com. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  2. ^ Lester, I.E. "Charles Babbage and the Difference Engine". NewMyths.com. Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  3. ^ Sobey, Ed (2009). A Field Guide to Automotive Technology. Chicago Review Press. p. 78. ISBN 978-1-55652-812-5. Retrieved 30 January 2015.