Modular Sensor Pod Placement for Autonomous Vehicle Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sensor placement in vehicles, whether integrated into the vehicle body or mounted externally, faces challenges such as limited field of view, complex installation processes, and increased risk of damage, particularly in compact and autonomous vehicles, leading to insufficient data coverage and potential delays in maintenance.
Innovation Solution
The use of self-contained sensor pods removably coupled to the vehicle, featuring a cast frame with multiple sensors of different types, overlapping fields of view for redundancy, and integrated cleaning systems, along with energy management structures for pedestrian protection, to enhance data coverage and simplify maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If sensors are integrated into the vehicle body, then the vehicle structure is streamlined, but the field of view of the sensors is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is divided into multiple sensor pods that can be independently positioned around the vehicle. Each pod contains one or more sensors and can be separately mounted to optimize its field of view without being constrained by the vehicle body structure. This segmentation allows each sensor to achieve optimal viewing angles while maintaining overall system integration.
2Area of stationary object
If sensors are mounted externally on the vehicle, then the field of view is improved, but the risk of impact damage to the sensor and external objects increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor pods are designed with protective housings that provide cushioning and impact absorption before forces reach the sensitive sensor components. The housing structure includes energy-absorbing features that mitigate impact damage from external objects, protecting both the sensor and surrounding environment while maintaining the external mounting configuration needed for optimal field of view.
3Loss of information
If multiple sensors are installed to provide comprehensive coverage, then data coverage is improved, but the complexity of installation and maintenance increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensors are merged into integrated sensor pod assemblies that function as unified units. Each pod combines complementary sensor types (such as cameras, LIDAR, and radar) into a single mountable component. This merging allows comprehensive sensor coverage to be achieved through the installation of fewer discrete units, simplifying both installation and maintenance while maintaining complete environmental perception capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor pods are designed as universal, multi-functional units that can be mounted in various locations around the vehicle and provide multiple sensing capabilities simultaneously. This multi-functionality allows a single pod design to serve multiple sensing requirements, reducing the variety of different components that need to be installed and maintained while achieving comprehensive data coverage.
4Stability of the object's composition
If sensors are permanently integrated into the vehicle, then structural integrity is maintained, but maintenance and replacement time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is segmented into removable sensor pod modules that can be independently detached from the vehicle structure. This modular segmentation allows sensors to be quickly replaced by simply removing and replacing the entire pod unit rather than performing complex disassembly of integrated components, significantly reducing maintenance time while maintaining structural integrity through standardized mounting interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor pod mounting system incorporates dynamic, removable connections that allow for quick attachment and detachment. These connections maintain secure structural integration during normal operation but enable rapid removal when maintenance is needed, providing the benefits of both permanent integration and easy replacement without compromising structural integrity.
Data Source
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 disposed on a vehicle, for example, an autonomous vehicle to collect and provide data of the environment during operation of the vehicle. The sensor pods may be disposed at elevated locations around the vehicle to reduce obstacles within the sensor pods fields of view.