Vehicle Sensor Assembly Air Gap for Moisture and Debris Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
External sensor assemblies for autonomous vehicles face issues with moisture and debris accumulation due to air intake, which can lead to deterioration of internal components over time, especially when operating at high speeds and in adverse weather conditions.
Innovation Solution
The sensor assembly incorporates a separation gap with air guide structural features that induce eddies in the airflow, reducing the momentum and energy of incoming air, moisture, and debris, thereby minimizing their accumulation on the sealed barrier.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If air intake is provided to cool internal components, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but moisture and debris accumulation increases
Solution Approach 1:
A separator component is introduced as an intermediary element between the air intake and internal components. This separator allows air to pass through for cooling while blocking moisture and debris, thus mediating between the need for cooling and the harm caused by contaminants
Solution Approach 2:
The air guide structural features convert the harmful high-momentum airflow into beneficial eddies that reduce momentum. The same airflow that brings moisture and debris is transformed through eddy formation into a lower-energy flow that deposits less contamination on internal components
2Object-affected harmful factors
If air guide structural features induce eddies to reduce airflow momentum, then moisture and debris accumulation is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air guide structure is segmented into multiple discrete features (ridges, protrusions, or baffles) arranged within the separation gap. This segmentation allows the complex eddy-inducing function to be achieved through multiple simple geometric elements rather than a single complex component
Solution Approach 2:
The air guide structural features are positioned specifically at locations where they can most effectively induce eddies in the airflow. The features have specific local geometries (ridges or protrusions) tailored to create the desired flow patterns, with each feature serving a localized function in the overall moisture reduction strategy
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 configuration effectively reduces the amount of air, moisture, and debris reaching the internal components, protecting them from deterioration and ensuring the longevity of the sealed barrier under operational and environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The separation gap may be configured with a set of air guide structural features, to induce formation of eddies from air intake received through the gap inlet, as air from the air intake moves inward towards the sealed barrier
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor assembly includes a first body that rotates a sensor component about an axis, and a second body coupled to the first body to form a separation gap. The separation gap extends radially inward from a gap inlet to a sealed barrier of the second body. The separation gap may be configured with a set of air guide structural features, to induce formation of eddies from air intake received through the gap inlet, as air from the air intake moves inward towards the sealed barrier.