LiDAR Mirror Assembly for Hood-Mounted Blind-Spot Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face challenges in effectively positioning LiDAR sensors to achieve a direct line of sight to potential obstacles, limiting their ability to provide comprehensive environmental information for navigation and collision avoidance.
Innovation Solution
A LiDAR mirror assembly is designed with a pivotable mirror and oblique support arms, allowing the LiDAR sensor to be mounted on a vehicle's hood with a field of view that extends beyond the vehicle's front, providing a 235° horizontal and 360° vertical view, enhancing the sensor's vantage point and coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the LiDAR sensor is mounted directly on the vehicle hood, then the mounting structure is simple, but the field of view is limited and cannot achieve direct line of sight to potential obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mirror assembly that redirects light from below the vehicle hood to the LiDAR sensor positioned on the hood. This adds a dimensional aspect to the optical path by using a mirror at an oblique angle to reflect light from directions that would otherwise be blocked, effectively expanding the field of view without requiring the sensor to be physically repositioned to multiple locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The mirror assembly acts as an intermediary element between the external environment and the LiDAR sensor. It mediates the optical path by reflecting light from potential obstacles that are not directly visible to the sensor mounted on the hood, thereby enabling the sensor to detect objects in areas that would otherwise be in its blind spot.
2Reliability
If the LiDAR sensor is positioned to achieve direct line of sight, then obstacle detection is improved, but the mounting location is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The mirror serves as an intermediary that enables the LiDAR sensor to achieve direct line of sight to obstacles without requiring the sensor to be physically relocated. The mirror redirects optical paths from various mounting positions, allowing the sensor to remain at a convenient location on the hood while still detecting obstacles in previously inaccessible directions.
Solution Approach 2:
The mirror assembly provides multi-functionality by enabling a single sensor mounting location to achieve detection capabilities equivalent to multiple mounting positions. The mirror allows the sensor to effectively 'see' from multiple virtual perspectives, making the mounting location more versatile and less restrictive.
3Reliability
If a mirror assembly is added to expand field of view, then obstacle detection capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into distinct functional components: the LiDAR sensor unit, the mirror assembly, and the mounting structure. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and facilitates easier installation, adjustment, and maintenance. The mirror assembly can be adjusted separately from the sensor, simplifying the overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The mirror assembly is designed to be adjustable rather than fixed, allowing dynamic optimization of the optical path. This adjustability enables fine-tuning of the field of view to match specific vehicle geometries and detection requirements, improving collision avoidance reliability while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.
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 LiDAR mirror assembly enhances the vehicle's ability to detect obstacles and navigate safely by providing an expanded field of view, improving collision avoidance and navigation capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
A LiDAR mirror assembly is designed with a pivotable mirror and oblique support arms, allowing the LiDAR sensor to be mounted on a vehicle's hood with a field of view that extends beyond the vehicle's front
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are devices, systems, and methods for a LiDAR mirror assembly mounted on a vehicle, such as an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle. For example, a LiDAR mirror assembly may include a base plate mounted on a hood of a vehicle, where the base plate is coupled to one end of a support arm. The opposite end of the support arm is attached to a housing. The housing includes a top housing enclosure coupled to a bottom housing platform, where a sensor and a mirror is coupled to the housing, and where the sensor is at least partially exposed through an opening in the top housing enclosure. The opening for the sensor is situated near an end of the housing furthest away from the base plate.