AV Sensor Cleaning Using Coolant Waste Heat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor cleaning systems for autonomous vehicles require additional electric heaters to heat cleaning fluids, which reduce efficiency by drawing current from the vehicle battery, compromising the vehicle's power management.
Innovation Solution
A sensor cleaning system that utilizes waste heat from the autonomous vehicle's coolant system to heat and pressurize a solvent for cleaning sensors, eliminating the need for additional electric heaters and conserving electrical energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electric heaters are used to heat cleaning fluid in sensor cleaning systems, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the vehicle's power management deteriorates due to additional battery current draw
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts waste heat from the vehicle's coolant system, which would otherwise be discarded, into a useful resource for heating the cleaning fluid. The coolant acts as a heat source that transfers thermal energy to the cleaning fluid through a heat exchanger, eliminating the need for electric heaters and their associated battery power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The coolant system serves dual functions: it continues to provide thermal management for the vehicle's powertrain while simultaneously acting as a heat source for the sensor cleaning system. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated heating components and reduces overall system energy requirements.
2Reliability
If additional heating components are added to the sensor cleaning system, then the cleaning performance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant system serves dual functions: it continues to provide thermal management for the vehicle's powertrain while simultaneously acting as a heat source for the sensor cleaning system. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated heating components and reduces overall system energy requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the vehicle's existing coolant circulation to provide heating for the cleaning fluid. The coolant naturally flows through the heat exchanger during normal vehicle operation, providing heat without requiring additional pumps, heaters, or control systems specifically for the cleaning function.
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 cleans sensors by using waste heat to increase the temperature and pressure of the solvent, improving debris removal efficiency without draining the vehicle's battery, thus enhancing the vehicle's overall power management and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A first heat exchanger is disposed in the tank to transfer heat from a heated fluid to the solvent
Implementation Method 2
A nozzle is in fluid communication with the tank to spray the solvent on a sensor
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for cleaning one or more sensors of an autonomous vehicle (AV) system. For example, the system includes a tank to store a solvent. A heat exchanger is disposed in the tank to transfer heat from a heated fluid to the solvent. A first actuator is provided to enable and disable fluid communication of the heated fluid from a coolant system to the heat exchanger. A nozzle is in fluid communication with the tank to spray the solvent on a sensor of an autonomous vehicle (AV) system to remove debris. A controller is programmed to control the first actuator to enable the fluid communication of the heated fluid to the heat exchanger to increase at least one of a temperature and a pressure of the solvent within the tank.