Regenerative Compressor Control for Autonomous Vehicle Sensor Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicle sensors are vulnerable to environmental factors like rain, heat, wind, and dust, which can impair their performance, and existing cleaning solutions are not effectively tailored to specific sensor types or environmental conditions, also generating noise that needs mitigation.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising sensors, nozzles, and a compressor that predicts vehicle trajectory and weather conditions to determine the need for cleaning, adjusts fluid pressure, and uses noise cancellation mechanisms to minimize acoustic emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensors are continuously cleaned to maintain performance, then sensor reliability is improved, but noise generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic cleaning operations triggered by detected environmental conditions (dust, rain, snow) rather than continuous cleaning. The controller activates the compressor and nozzles only when sensor degradation is detected, maintaining reliability while minimizing noise-generating cleaning cycles
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that detect environmental conditions and sensor performance degradation, providing feedback to the controller. This feedback mechanism enables intelligent decision-making about when cleaning is necessary, optimizing the balance between maintaining sensor reliability and minimizing unnecessary cleaning operations that generate noise
2Reliability
If cleaning operations are increased to account for environmental factors, then sensor cleanliness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a single compressor to generate compressed air that serves multiple cleaning functions for different sensor types (cameras, LiDAR, radar) through a network of nozzles. This multi-functional approach maintains sensor cleanliness across various environmental conditions without requiring separate cleaning systems for each sensor type
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning system uses compressed air from the vehicle's existing compressor system rather than requiring a dedicated cleaning pump or motor. The system leverages already-available vehicle resources (compressed air infrastructure) to perform sensor cleaning, reducing overall device complexity
3Reliability
If compressor operates at high pressure for effective cleaning, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies compressed air at high pressure only to specific nozzle locations and directions where it is most needed for effective cleaning, rather than uniformly high pressure across all nozzles. The controller modulates compressor output to provide sufficient cleaning pressure only when and where required
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts compressor operating parameters (pressure, flow rate) based on detected environmental conditions and cleaning needs. The controller modulates compressor output to match the actual cleaning requirements, reducing energy consumption when full power is not needed while maintaining effectiveness when conditions warrant it
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
Effectively cleans sensors based on specific conditions while reducing noise interference, ensuring optimal performance and reliability in various environmental scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor configured to generate the fluid, the compressor being in fluid communication with the one or more nozzles and configured to transfer the fluid to the one or more nozzles
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus on a vehicle comprises one or more sensors, one or more nozzles that output fluid to clean the respective one or more sensors, and a compressor that generates fluid such as compressed air. The compressor is in fluid communication with the one or more nozzles. The apparatus further comprises one or more processors, and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to predict a trajectory of the vehicle and control an operation of the compressor based on the predicted trajectory of the vehicle.