Adaptive Sensor Cleaning Control for Rainy Autonomous Driving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle sensor units for autonomous driving are prone to contamination, particularly in rainy conditions, leading to inaccurate data measurement and stability issues, which conventional windshield washer systems do not adequately address.
Innovation Solution
A method of controlling cleaning for sensor units involves determining priorities based on driving environment and precipitation, using low-pressure or high-pressure air spraying from dedicated tanks, with a controller managing the distribution to ensure effective cleaning of camera and LiDAR/RADAR units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional windshield washer systems are used, then windshield cleaning is achieved, but sensor unit cleaning is not adequately addressed
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system is segmented into multiple independent air nozzles, each dedicated to specific sensor units. The controller divides sensor units into groups (first group with first air nozzle, second group with second air nozzle) and independently controls air spraying to each group based on their specific contamination conditions and priorities, enabling targeted cleaning while maintaining system reliability.
2Reliability
If air pressure is increased to remove heavy contaminants, then cleaning effectiveness improves, but energy consumption and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts air pressure levels based on real-time contamination conditions and sensor priorities. The controller selects between first air pressure and second air pressure for different sensor groups, and adjusts the third air pressure level based on vehicle speed and environmental conditions, optimizing energy consumption while maintaining effective cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the pressure parameter of compressed air to match different cleaning requirements. By adjusting air pressure levels (first, second, and third pressures) according to contamination severity, sensor priority, and vehicle speed, the system achieves effective contaminant removal while minimizing energy consumption.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple sensor units are cleaned simultaneously, then overall cleaning coverage improves, but control complexity and response time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The controller divides sensor units into distinct groups (first group and second group) and assigns separate air nozzles to each group. This segmentation simplifies control logic by enabling independent management of different sensor groups based on their priorities and contamination conditions, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different cleaning strategies to different sensor groups based on their specific requirements. First sensor units receive first air pressure through first air nozzles, while second sensor units receive second air pressure through second air nozzles, with each group's cleaning parameters optimized for its local conditions and priority level.
4Reliability
If air spraying is continuous to maintain clean sensors, then measurement accuracy is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs periodic determination of sensor contamination conditions and adjusts air spraying accordingly. Rather than continuous spraying, the system periodically assesses sensor status and activates air nozzles only when contamination is detected or prevention is needed, maintaining measurement accuracy while reducing energy consumption through intermittent operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach maintains stable autonomous driving by effectively removing contaminants from sensor units, ensuring accurate data measurement and vehicle safety through adaptive air pressure and fluid application based on environmental conditions and vehicle state.
Implementation Method 1
spraying air stored in an air tank to the sensor units according to the set cleaning mode
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling cleaning of a sensor unit, includes determining, by a controller, whether autonomous driving is possible, determining, by a measurement unit, whether a vehicle is in a rainy environment, determining, by the controller, priorities of a plurality of sensor units according to a driving environment of the vehicle during the autonomous driving of the vehicle, setting, by the controller, the priorities of the sensor units according to the rainy environment and the driving environment of the vehicle, and pressure of air according to the driving environment, and setting a cleaning mode for determining air sprayed to each of the sensor units, and spraying air stored in an air tank to the sensor units according to the set cleaning mode.