Rotating Lidar Sensor Coupled to Cooling Impeller
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing demand for autonomous delivery vehicles due to e-commerce has highlighted the need for cost-effective sensors that can produce high-quality images of the environment for navigation, as existing lidar sensors are expensive and not efficiently integrated with ventilation systems for cooling and motion coupling.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle design featuring a rotatably mounted sensor, such as a 2D lidar, coupled with a ventilation device's impeller for rotational motion, allowing the sensor to produce a three-dimensional image of the environment while also cooling the control device, which processes data for autonomous movement, without the need for expensive 3D lidar sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a 3D lidar sensor is used to produce three-dimensional images of the environment, then the measurement precision and image quality are improved, but the manufacturing cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by rotating a 2D lidar sensor around a vertical axis to capture environmental data from multiple angles. This rotational movement in the horizontal plane transforms the capability of a 2D sensor into effective 3D environmental mapping, avoiding the need for expensive 3D lidar sensors while achieving three-dimensional image production through temporal integration of multiple 2D scans
2Measurement precision
If a separate motor is added to rotate the sensor for three-dimensional imaging, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sensor rotation function with the existing ventilation system by coupling the sensor to the impeller. The impeller's rotational movement, originally intended solely for cooling the control device, is repurposed to rotate the sensor around the vertical axis. This integration eliminates the need for a separate rotation motor and reduces system complexity while achieving three-dimensional environmental mapping
Solution Approach 2:
The impeller is given a dual function: it continues to cool the control device by moving air while simultaneously rotating the sensor to enable three-dimensional imaging. This multi-functionality approach reduces the total number of components needed in the system, as the ventilation mechanism serves both thermal management and sensor positioning purposes
3Device complexity
If the sensor is rotated by the ventilation device's impeller, then the device complexity is reduced and manufacturing cost decreases, but the reliability of sensor rotation may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor rotation is achieved through the self-service mechanism of the ventilation system. The impeller rotates the sensor using its own operational motion (driven by air flow or motor) without requiring an additional dedicated rotation actuator. The system uses its existing functional movement to simultaneously perform cooling and sensor positioning tasks
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 approach enables cost-effective production of three-dimensional images by utilizing a 2D lidar sensor rotated by the ventilation device's impeller, enhancing the vehicle's ability to navigate autonomously and efficiently dissipate waste heat, thus improving operational efficiency and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
the ventilation device and the sensor are rotationally coupled in such a way that the impeller rotates the sensor about an axis of rotation
Implementation Method 2
a ventilation device designed to cool the control device with a rotatably mounted impeller
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a rotatably mounted sensor designed to produce an image of an environment of the vehicle, a control device designed to process data obtained from the sensor, and a ventilation device that is designed for cooling the control device by a rotatably mounted impeller. An axis of rotation of the impeller is oriented orthogonally to a direction of movement of the vehicle and the ventilation device and the sensor are rotationally coupled in such a way that the impeller rotates the sensor around the axis of rotation.