Retractable Sensor Guide for Vehicle Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number of sensors required for advanced driver assistance functions in vehicles leads to higher costs and integration complexity, as each function or area typically necessitates separate sensors, impairing the vehicle's exterior appearance when externally mounted.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle design featuring sensors that can be moved along a guide spaced inwardly from the outer skin, utilizing an actuator to position and rotate sensors for optimal coverage, allowing a single sensor to cover multiple areas and angles, thereby reducing the number of sensors needed and maintaining a clean exterior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple separate sensors are installed on the vehicle exterior for different driver assistance functions, then each detection area is covered adequately, but the number of sensors increases leading to higher costs and integration complexity
Solution Approach 1:
A single sensor unit is designed to perform multiple detection functions by moving to different positions along the guide rail. The sensor can detect objects in front of, behind, and at sides of the vehicle by translating along the guide, replacing what would traditionally require multiple separate sensors for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically reposition itself along the guide rail according to the required detection area. This dynamic positioning capability enables one sensor to cover multiple detection zones that would otherwise require multiple stationary sensors.
2Reliability
If sensors are mounted externally on the vehicle skin, then detection coverage is maximized, but the vehicle's exterior appearance is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rail is integrated into the vehicle's body structure, with the sensor unit moving along this internal or semi-internal guide. The sensor can be positioned close to the exterior skin when detection is needed, while remaining housed within the vehicle's structure when not in use, thus maintaining aesthetic appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide rail acts as an intermediary structure that allows the sensor to access detection positions near the exterior while being supported and concealed by the vehicle's body structure. This mediator enables the sensor to achieve external detection coverage without being permanently mounted on the exterior surface.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Motor vehicle (1) with at least one sensor (2 - 7) for detecting the motor vehicle environment, which is movable by means of an actuator along a guide (8) spaced inwards from the outer skin (9) of the motor vehicle (1), wherein the sensor (2 - 7) is movable along the guide (8) into different detection positions.