Vehicle Sensor Cleaning Control Around Pedestrians and Cyclists
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for initiating cleaning processes in vehicle surroundings sensors do not adequately consider the vehicle's environment, potentially causing damage to pedestrians or electrical systems and impairing road users, especially in automated vehicles without a driver.
Innovation Solution
A method that initiates cleaning processes for vehicle-side sensors by a control unit, taking into account the vehicle's surroundings using sensor data to identify units to be protected, and adjusts the cleaning process to avoid impacting them, including delaying, modifying, or aborting the process based on the presence of entities like pedestrians or cyclists.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cleaning process is initiated automatically by a centralized or decentralized soiling detection system, then the sensor cleaning is improved, but pedestrians or electrical systems may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary detection of the vehicle surroundings using surroundings sensors before initiating the cleaning process. This preliminary action identifies pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, animals, or objects in the cleaning area, allowing the system to prepare appropriate protective measures or delays before the cleaning process starts, thereby preventing harm while maintaining cleaning reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary between the soiling detection system and the cleaning process execution. It receives the cleaning request, mediates by checking surroundings data, and only authorizes the cleaning process if safe or implements appropriate delays/ modifications. This intermediary function reconciles the conflicting requirements of cleaning reliability and safety
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the cleaning process is delayed or aborted when units to be protected are detected, then safety of surroundings is improved, but cleaning efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning process parameters (timing, intensity, area) are made dynamic rather than static. The control unit continuously monitors surroundings data and dynamically adjusts the cleaning process - delaying initiation, reducing intensity, or limiting the cleaning area based on real-time detection of units to be protected. This dynamic adaptation maintains safety while minimizing delays to cleaning efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters of the cleaning process based on detected conditions. When units to be protected are detected, parameters such as cleaning start time, water flow rate, spray pressure, or active nozzles are modified. These parameter changes allow the cleaning to proceed safely under adjusted conditions rather than being completely aborted, maintaining productivity while ensuring safety
Data Source
AI summary
A method is for initiating a cleaning process of at least one vehicle-side sensor using a control unit. Ascertained measurement data is received from at least one surroundings sensor, a cleaning request is received from at least one requesting unit, and the surroundings of the vehicle are checked with respect to at least one unit to be protected in the surroundings of the vehicle based on the received measurement data and/or the at least one unit to be protected is ascertained based on other received data. When the at least one unit to be protected is ascertained in the surroundings of the vehicle, a modified cleaning process is initiated and/or the initiation of the cleaning process is delayed or prevented.