Autonomous Vehicle Sensor Cleaning With Individualized Fluid Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicle sensors face degradation due to debris, contaminants, and environmental conditions such as rain, snow, and dirt, which interfere with data collection and require efficient cleaning methods.
Innovation Solution
A sensor cleaning system that includes individualized cleaning units for autonomous vehicle sensors, utilizing both gas and liquid cleaning systems, with a pressure transfer device to gas-pressurize the liquid system, allowing for precise and efficient cleaning based on sensor data analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sensor cleaning system is implemented to remove contaminants and debris from sensors, then sensor data quality is improved, but device complexity and resource usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system is divided into multiple independent cleaning units, each dedicated to a specific sensor. Each unit includes its own fluid delivery mechanism and control system, allowing individualized cleaning operations without affecting other sensors. This segmentation enables targeted cleaning based on actual contamination needs of each sensor.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that monitor their own contamination levels and automatically trigger cleaning operations when needed. The cleaning units are self-contained with integrated fluid reservoirs, pumps, and actuators that operate autonomously based on sensor feedback, reducing the need for complex external control systems.
2Reliability
If cleaning is performed on all sensors simultaneously, then all sensors are ensured to be clean, but temporary blindness of the entire sensor system occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into independent cleaning units for each sensor, allowing selective activation of individual units. This enables cleaning of only those sensors that require it, maintaining continuous operation of other sensors and preventing system-wide interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of cleaning all sensors simultaneously, the system performs partial cleaning actions only on sensors that are determined to be contaminated. This selective approach maintains sensor availability while still addressing cleanliness needs where they exist.
3Reliability
If frequent cleaning is performed on all sensors, then sensor data quality is maintained, but energy and resource usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates contamination detection mechanisms that continuously monitor sensor conditions. Cleaning operations are triggered only when contamination levels exceed predetermined thresholds, eliminating unnecessary cleaning cycles and reducing energy and fluid consumption while maintaining data quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs cleaning actions only to the extent necessary - only on contaminated sensors and only when contamination reaches critical levels. This avoids excessive cleaning of already clean sensors, optimizing resource usage while maintaining adequate sensor performance.
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 system provides efficient and individualized cleaning of autonomous vehicle sensors, improving data quality by ensuring sensors are cleaned only when necessary, reducing energy and resource usage, and preventing temporary blindness of the sensor system.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure transfer device to gas-pressurize the liquid system
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a sensor cleaning system that cleans one or more sensors of an autonomous vehicle. Each sensor can have one or more corresponding sensor cleaning units that are configured to clean such sensor using a fluid (e.g., a gas or a liquid). Thus, the sensor cleaning system can include both a gas cleaning system and a liquid cleaning system. According to one aspect, the sensor cleaning system can provide individualized cleaning of the autonomous vehicle sensors. According to another aspect, a liquid cleaning system can be pressurized or otherwise powered by the gas cleaning system or other gas system.