Near-Range Sensor Mounting Assembly for Independent Service
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face challenges in effectively mounting and servicing Lidar units and cameras, which affects their navigation and safety features, as existing solutions do not allow for independent maintenance and optimal orientation of these sensors for enhanced object detection.
Innovation Solution
A mounting assembly for autonomous vehicles that includes a Lidar mount with opposing surfaces for the Lidar unit and camera housing, allowing independent coupling and maintenance, and an acute angle orientation of the camera for improved field of view and object detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the LIDAR unit and camera are mounted together on the same surface, then the structure is simpler, but independent servicing and maintenance become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting assembly is divided into two distinct mounting surfaces: a first surface for the LIDAR unit and a second surface for the camera housing. This segmentation allows each sensor to be independently mounted, serviced, and maintained while still being part of the same overall mounting assembly, thus resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and independent servicing capability.
2Ease of manufacture
If the camera is mounted at a standard orientation, then the mounting process is simpler, but the field of view for detecting pedestrians and bicycles is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The camera housing is mounted on the second surface of the mounting assembly at an acute angle relative to the first surface, creating an asymmetric orientation. This asymmetric mounting angle expands the camera's field of view to better detect pedestrians and bicycles, while the mounting structure itself remains simple and easy to manufacture.
Data Source
AI summary
A near-range camera assembly for a vehicle is provided. The near-range camera assembly includes a LIDAR mount couplable to a vehicle. The LIDAR mount includes a first surface and a second surface that opposes the first surface. The near-range camera assembly includes a LIDAR unit removably coupled to the first surface LIDAR mount. The near-range camera assembly further includes a camera and a camera housing for the camera. The camera housing is removably coupled to the second surface LIDAR mount.