Sensor Cluster Housing for Replaceable ADAS Sensor Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in autonomous vehicles face limitations in sensor functionality due to external environments, such as darkness or severe weather, which affect camera and radar sensors' reliability, necessitating integration and convergence of heterogeneous sensors, but existing systems lack efficient methods for sensor replacement and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A sensor-cluster apparatus that allows for easy replacement of sensors without detaching the body member from the case, featuring a case with an opening for sensor exposure, screw-coupling for secure attachment, and a sliding cover for protection and access, enabling the integration of camera, infrared, lidar, and radar sensors with angled orientations for comprehensive environmental data collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensors are integrated into a fixed body member mounted on the vehicle, then sensing function and data collection capability are improved, but sensor replacement and maintenance become complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor cluster apparatus divides the sensor assembly into separable components: the body member containing mounting structures and the sensor as a detachable unit. This segmentation allows the sensor to be replaced independently without removing the entire body member, resolving the contradiction between maintaining sensing function and enabling easy repair.
2Adaptability or versatility
If heterogeneous sensors are integrated to complement each other's limitations, then adaptability to different environments is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The body member is designed with universal mounting structures (mounting grooves and coupling bolts) that can accommodate different types of sensors (camera, infrared, lidar, radar). This universal interface allows heterogeneous sensors to be integrated and replaced systematically, achieving environmental adaptability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
3Productivity
If sensors are exposed through an opening in the case, then data collection capability is improved, but environmental interference and damage risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is designed to be movable (openable and closable) rather than fixed, allowing dynamic control of sensor exposure. The cover can be opened during data collection to maximize sensing capability and closed when not in use to protect sensors from environmental interference, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and protection.
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor-cluster apparatus includes: sensors configured to detect and collect external environment information, the sensors including one or more kinds of sensors; a body member having one surface onto which the sensors are mounted; a case on which the body member is fixed, the case including: an inner space in which the body member is mounted; and an opening defined in one surface thereof exposing the inner space, the sensors are exposed through the opening; and a cover configured to open and close the opening of the case, wherein, the sensors are configured to be detached from the body member through the opening of the case with the body member fixed to the case.