PTC Shroud Sensor Cleaning for Autonomous Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Outdoor sensors used in autonomous vehicles face debris accumulation on their covers, which obstruct light and impair imaging capabilities, necessitating effective cleaning methods to maintain navigation accuracy.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) shroud integrated with an active cooler and blower system, where the PTC shroud is actuated based on transmittance parameters to remove debris by heating or blowing air across the sensor covers, improving imaging quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sensor cover is exposed to outdoor environment, then the sensor can capture light and images, but debris accumulates on the cover blocking light and obscuring imaging
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system performs self-cleaning through integrated heating elements and blowers that automatically remove debris from the cover without external intervention, allowing the system to maintain its own imaging capability
Solution Approach 2:
The cover temperature is changed by activating heating elements when debris is detected, transforming the physical state of debris through heating to restore light transmittance and imaging quality
2Reliability
If cleaning mechanisms are added to remove debris, then imaging quality improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning functions (heating and air blowing) are merged into an integrated cleaning system that works协同 to remove debris, reducing the number of separate components needed while maintaining effective cleaning capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from image analysis to detect debris accumulation and automatically triggers cleaning operations only when needed, avoiding continuous operation and reducing overall system 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
This solution effectively clears debris from sensor covers, enhancing the imaging system's performance and maintaining accurate autonomous navigation by ensuring optimal light transmittance and sensor operation.
Implementation Method 1
a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) shroud of the sensor... when the transmittance parameter is less than a transmittance threshold value, then actuate the PTC shroud
Implementation Method 2
The PTC shroud may be electrically coupled to an active cooler
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor having a positive temperature coefficient shroud is described, as well as a computing system to control actuation of the positive temperature coefficient shroud. According to one example, the computing system executes a method that actuates the positive temperature coefficient shroud of the sensor based on a transmittance parameter of the sensor.