Modular Sensor Pod Assembly for Wide Vehicle Field of View
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sensor placement in vehicles, whether integrated into the vehicle body or mounted on the exterior, faces challenges such as limited field of view, time-consuming replacement processes, potential damage from external impacts, and insufficient data coverage, particularly in compact and autonomous vehicles.
Innovation Solution
The use of self-contained sensor pods removably coupled to the vehicle, featuring a frame with multiple sensors of different types and orientations, overlapping fields of view, and integrated cleaning systems, along with impact-absorbing structures to provide comprehensive environmental coverage and protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If sensors are integrated into the vehicle body, then the vehicle structure is streamlined, but the field of view is limited and sensor replacement is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is divided into modular sensor pods that can be independently removed and replaced. Each sensor pod contains one or more sensors mounted on a common housing, allowing the entire sensor assembly to be replaced as a single unit rather than individual sensors, significantly reducing replacement time while maintaining streamlined vehicle integration
2Ease of operation
If sensors are mounted on the exterior of the vehicle, then the field of view is improved, but the likelihood of impact damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor pod housing incorporates impact-absorbing materials and energy management structures designed to cushion and dissipate impact forces before they reach the sensors. This preemptive protection allows sensors to be positioned on the exterior for optimal field of view while mitigating the risk of impact damage through built-in protective features
3Loss of information
If multiple sensors are installed to provide comprehensive coverage, then data coverage is improved, but the complexity of sensor placement and calibration increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensors of different types (cameras, LIDAR, radar) are merged into a single integrated sensor pod assembly with a common mounting interface and coordinated field of view. This consolidation provides comprehensive environmental data coverage while simplifying placement and calibration, as the entire multi-sensor assembly is installed and calibrated as one unit rather than individually mounting and calibrating separate sensors throughout the vehicle
Data Source
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AI summary
A sensor pod system includes one or more sensor pods with a plurality of sensors configured to collect data from an environment. A sensor pod may have an effective field of view created by individual sensors with overlapping fields of view. The sensor pod system may include sensors of different types and modalities. Sensor pods of the sensor pod system may be modularly installed on a vehicle, for example, an autonomous vehicle and collect and provide data of the environment during operation of the vehicle.