Lidar Sensor Window Cover Cleaning via Signal Analysis
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Lidar sensors are sensitive to contamination on their window covers, which degrades their performance, and existing methods lack effective cleaning solutions to maintain their sensing accuracy, especially in outdoor environments.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that utilize a signal analyzer to distinguish foreign matters on the lidar sensor's window cover by analyzing signal characteristics, such as magnitude, pattern, and movement, and a controller to control a cleaner, including a wash solution sprayer, air sprayer, dryer, and wiper, to remove contaminants like dust, moisture, rain, snow, hail, and mud.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lidar sensor is exposed to the outside for sensing, then the sensing performance is maintained, but the window cover is susceptible to contamination from external foreign matters
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the lidar sensor's own transmitted light and receiver to detect contaminants on its own window cover, enabling self-diagnosis without requiring external detection systems. This allows the sensor to monitor its own cleaning needs and trigger appropriate cleaning actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the window cover's contamination state by analyzing reflected light signals from the lidar receiver, provides feedback about foreign matter detection, and automatically triggers cleaning operations based on the contamination level, creating a closed-loop control system.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional protection methods are used to prevent contamination, then the sensor is protected from foreign matters, but the sensing performance is significantly degraded
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using static protective structures that permanently block the sensor, the system dynamically switches between a clean state (window exposed for sensing) and a cleaning state (contaminants removed), allowing the sensor to maintain optimal performance while periodically eliminating contamination threats.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of contaminants on the window cover using the lidar's own signals before contamination significantly degrades sensing performance, allowing proactive cleaning before performance is compromised.
3Device complexity
If no cleaning method is implemented, then the device complexity is reduced, but the sensing performance deteriorates due to contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the lidar sensor's existing transmitted light and receiver components for dual purposes: both for distance sensing and for detecting contaminants on the window cover. This eliminates the need for separate detection hardware, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining cleaning functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex mechanical inspection systems with an optical detection method using the lidar's own light signals, simplifying the detection mechanism while maintaining effective contaminant identification capabilities.
4Reliability
If a cleaning system is added to remove contaminants, then the sensing performance is maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves as an intelligent intermediary that receives detection signals from the lidar receiver, analyzes contamination levels, determines appropriate cleaning actions, and coordinates the cleaning mechanism, thereby integrating multiple functions into a unified control system that manages complexity.
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 prevents performance degradation of lidar sensors by accurately identifying and removing contaminants, ensuring consistent sensing accuracy and reliability, particularly in outdoor conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a laser transmitter configured to transmit light; a laser receiver configured to receive the light reflected from a target
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for cleaning a lidar sensor may include: a signal analyzer configured to distinguish foreign matters adhering to a window cover, using a signal inputted from a laser receiver of a lidar sensor; a cleaner configured to remove the foreign matters adhering to the window cover; and a controller configured to control the cleaner according to the foreign matters distinguished by the signal analyzer.