Sensor Cleaning Apparatus Using Pressurized Air Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicle sensors, particularly cameras, experience performance diminishment due to environmental factors like debris and moisture on their transparent surfaces, leading to obscured fields-of-view and impaired image quality, which can compromise safety functions.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method for selectively activating a sensor assembly cleaning apparatus that uses pressurized air to eject debris and moisture from transparent surfaces, with an activation schedule determined based on the physical configuration of the surfaces and vehicle velocity, ensuring effective cleaning while avoiding pressure drops and optimizing power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cleaning apparatus operates continuously to maintain transparent surfaces, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic cleaning cycles based on activation schedules that determine when and how long to eject fluid onto transparent surfaces. The controller activates the cleaning apparatus at specific time intervals or based on detected obscurement levels, rather than continuous operation, thereby maintaining cleaning effectiveness while reducing overall power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensor data from the vehicle's existing sensors to monitor transparent surface conditions and automatically triggers cleaning only when needed. This self-monitoring and self-triggering mechanism eliminates the need for continuous operation or manual intervention, optimizing power usage based on actual cleaning requirements.
2Productivity
If fluid is ejected simultaneously onto multiple transparent surfaces, then cleaning productivity is improved, but pressure drop increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller divides the cleaning process into segmented operations by ejecting fluid onto different transparent surfaces at different time periods. When multiple surfaces need cleaning, the system staggers the activation of different ejection nozzles or divides the cleaning into sequential phases, ensuring that pressure drop remains within acceptable limits while still achieving comprehensive cleaning of all surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The activation schedule is dynamically adjusted based on the physical configuration of transparent surfaces and real-time pressure conditions. The controller modifies ejection timing and duration to optimize cleaning effectiveness while maintaining pressure within operational limits, adapting the cleaning strategy to current system conditions.
3Reliability
If the cleaning apparatus operates at high power to clear debris efficiently, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but wear on the apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
By implementing periodic cleaning cycles with controlled duration, the system maintains cleaning effectiveness while limiting the total operational time of high-power components. The activation schedule ensures that the cleaning apparatus operates at high power only when and for as long as needed to remove obscuring debris, rather than continuous high-power operation, thereby reducing cumulative wear and extending apparatus lifespan.
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
The method effectively clears debris and moisture from sensor surfaces, enhancing image clarity and maintaining sensor performance, thereby ensuring safe autonomous vehicle operation by improving field-of-view and reducing power consumption and wear.
Implementation Method 1
The activation schedule specifies a timing and a duration of ejection of a fluid by the apparatus onto multiple transparent surfaces of the sensor assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling a sensor assembly cleaning apparatus includes receiving sensor data from various vehicle sensors, determining a level of obscurement of the transparent surface, and determining whether the level of obscurement exceeds a threshold level. If the transparent surface is obscured beyond the threshold level, a control signal may be sent to the apparatus to initiate the ejection of pressurized air onto the transparent surface. Optionally, the method may further evaluate other parameters such as the vehicle velocity in relation to a threshold vehicle velocity prior to sending the control signal to ensure that the cleaning operation using pressurized air would not be superfluous in light of the vehicle velocity. In addition, a method for selectively activating the sensor assembly cleaning apparatus includes determining an activation schedule for the apparatus based on an arrangement of transparent surfaces and controlling the apparatus to operate based on the activation schedule.