Sensor Enclosure Washing Apparatus for Lidar Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Externally mounted Lidar sensor systems in autonomous vehicles experience reduced performance due to dirt and debris accumulation on optical windows, affecting laser light beam obstruction and sensor functionality.
Innovation Solution
A washing apparatus comprising a wiper assembly and control module, including a wiper blade, cleaning fluid spray nozzle, and a guideway system, which automatically deploys and retracts to clean the sensor enclosure, ensuring clear optical windows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a washing apparatus is installed to clean the sensor enclosure, then the sensor performance is maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The washing apparatus integrates multiple cleaning functions into a single unified system. The wiper assembly combines blade, arm, and pivot mechanisms, while the cleaning fluid system merges reservoir, pump, and spray nozzle functions. This consolidation maintains sensor cleaning effectiveness while reducing overall system complexity compared to separate cleaning mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The washing apparatus is designed to clean multiple sensor enclosures simultaneously using a single wiper assembly that can service several optical windows. The cleaning fluid system serves both wet cleaning and rinsing functions. This multi-functional design reduces the number of separate components needed while maintaining comprehensive cleaning coverage for all sensors.
2Manufacturing precision
If a wiper assembly with guideway is used to clean the sensor enclosure, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guideway system employs curved or circular tracks that follow the contour of the sensor enclosure array. This curved path design allows the wiper assembly to access multiple enclosures along an arc, improving cleaning coverage and effectiveness while maintaining a compact structure that doesn't require complex linear positioning mechanisms for each sensor.
Solution Approach 2:
The wiper assembly is designed with movable components including a pivoting arm and adjustable blade positioning. The guideway allows dynamic movement of the wiper along the curved path, enabling it to adapt to different sensor enclosure positions and maintain optimal cleaning contact. This dynamic design improves cleaning effectiveness without requiring a fully rigid, complex mechanical structure.
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
Maintains optimal sensor performance by effectively removing dirt and debris from sensor enclosures, enhancing vehicle localization and recognition capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
The washing apparatus may further include a cleaning fluid spray nozzle
Implementation Method 2
The wiper assembly includes a wiper blade
Implementation Method 3
The wiper assembly includes a wiper blade
Implementation Method 4
a cleaning fluid pump configured to pump cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid reservoir to the cleaning fluid spray nozzle
Data Source
AI summary
A washing apparatus is provided for a sensor enclosure. That washing apparatus includes a wiper assembly and a control module. The control module is configured to displace a wiper blade of the wiper assembly between a stowed position free of the sensor enclosure and a deployed position engaging the sensor enclosure.