Air Nozzle Sensor Cleaning for Autonomous Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sensors on autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles, such as cameras and precipitation sensors, are often obstructed by dirt, dust, debris, and precipitation, which degrades their performance and can lead to reduced reliability in vehicle operation, potentially requiring windshield wipers that increase drag and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning system utilizing computer-controlled nozzles to emit air or fluid on the sensors, with air nozzles continuously cleaning cameras and intermittently cleaning precipitation sensors, and a burst of air or fluid being used to clear obstructions, allowing the vehicle to potentially omit windshield wipers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If windshield wipers are used to clean sensors, then sensor obstruction is removed, but vehicle drag and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system is segmented into multiple independent nozzles, each dedicated to specific sensors (camera nozzle, precipitation sensor nozzle). This modular approach reduces overall system complexity while maintaining effective cleaning capability for each sensor type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pneumatic air nozzles to clean sensors instead of mechanical windshield wipers. This eliminates the need for complex mechanical linkages, motors, and control systems associated with wipers, thereby reducing vehicle drag and system complexity while maintaining sensor cleaning functionality.
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
The system effectively maintains the clarity of cameras and precipitation sensors while allowing the vehicle to operate without windshield wipers, reducing drag and complexity, and ensuring continuous sensor functionality.
Implementation Method 1
A cleaning system utilizes computer-controlled nozzles to emit air or fluid on the sensors, with air nozzles continuously cleaning cameras
Implementation Method 2
air nozzles continuously cleaning cameras and intermittently cleaning precipitation sensors
Implementation Method 3
actuate a third nozzle to spray fluid at the one of the camera and the precipitation sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a computer programmed to actuate a first nozzle to emit air continuously at a camera, and actuate a second nozzle to simultaneously emit air intermittently at a precipitation sensor. The system may include a camera, a precipitation sensor coupled to the camera, the first nozzle aimed at the camera, the second nozzle aimed at the precipitation sensor, and the computer in communication with the first and second nozzles.