Rooftop Sensor Repositioning for Low-Clearance Autonomous Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face limitations in navigating through areas with low clearances due to their increased height from rooftop sensors, which restricts their service area and efficiency, especially in dense urban environments.
Innovation Solution
The method involves a system where processors in autonomous vehicles identify low clearance zones and adjust the rooftop sensor's position using a motor, collapsing or deploying a support structure to reduce or increase the vehicle's height dynamically, allowing it to pass under obstacles while maintaining sensor functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If rooftop sensors are mounted on the autonomous vehicle, then sensor detection capability is improved, but vehicle height increases causing inability to pass through low clearance zones
Solution Approach 1:
The rooftop sensor assembly is made dynamically adjustable in height through a motor-driven support structure that can extend and retract. The system transitions from a static fixed-height configuration to a dynamic adjustable-height configuration, allowing the vehicle to adapt its profile to match the clearance requirements of different road environments while maintaining optimal sensor positioning when possible.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical parameter of vehicle height is changed dynamically by adjusting the extension state of the support structure. The system modifies the vertical position parameter of the rooftop sensor assembly, transitioning between extended (higher) and retracted (lower) states to resolve the contradiction between detection capability and clearance passage.
2Speed
If the support structure is extended to improve sensor visibility, then detection range is improved, but the vehicle cannot pass through low clearance areas
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure implementing the rooftop sensor assembly is designed with dynamic adjustability, allowing real-time changes in extension state. This enables the system to optimize detection range by extending the structure when adequate clearance exists, while automatically retracting when approaching low clearance zones identified through GPS location data or sensor input.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary determination of the support structure's extension state based on pre-acquired road information or real-time environmental sensing. By anticipating clearance constraints before encountering them, the system can proactively adjust the support structure to an appropriate state, ensuring both optimal detection range and safe passage through low clearance areas.
3Device complexity
If the rooftop sensor position is fixed, then structural simplicity is maintained, but the vehicle lacks adaptability to different clearance conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static fixed-position rooftop sensor assembly to a dynamic adjustable-position configuration. The motor-driven support structure enables controlled movement between extended and retracted states, providing adaptability to various clearance conditions while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through the use of a single degree-of-freedom adjustment mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable support structure serves multiple functions: it enables the vehicle to pass through low clearance zones by retracting, optimizes sensor detection range by extending when appropriate, and provides a universal solution that can adapt to various road environments. This multi-functional design enhances versatility without proportionally increasing structural 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 dynamic height adjustment enhances the vehicle's ability to navigate through low-clearance areas, increasing its service area and operational efficiency by reducing the total vehicle height when necessary and restoring it for better visibility when safe to do so.
Implementation Method 1
causing a motor to reposition the rooftop sensor
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the disclosure relate to repositioning a rooftop sensor of an autonomous vehicle when needed to reduce the overall height of the autonomous vehicle. For instance, while an autonomous vehicle is being controlled in an autonomous driving mode, a low clearance zone may be identified. An activation location may be determined based on the low clearance zone and a current speed of the autonomous vehicle. Once the activation location is reached by the autonomous vehicle, a motor may be caused to reposition the rooftop sensor. In addition, in some instances, after the autonomous vehicle has passed the low clearance zone, the motor may be caused to reposition the rooftop sensor again.