Sensor Cover Trough Diverts Liquid From Lidar Lens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor technologies face challenges in maintaining data accuracy due to environmental obstructions such as rain, snow, and debris, which can degrade sensor performance and impact navigation and obstacle detection in autonomous vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A sensor cover assembly is designed to protect sensors from obstructions by incorporating a cover that directs liquid and debris away from the sensor's field of view, using channels and drainage systems to divert obstructions to a less critical field of view or to a drain outlet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sensor cover assembly is added to protect the sensor from obstructions, then the sensor's reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover assembly is divided into distinct functional segments: a cover body with multiple surfaces for different directional protection, integrated channels for liquid diversion, and a drain outlet system. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall system reliability without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The cover assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it protects the sensor from various types of obstructions (rain, snow, debris), directs liquids away from the sensor field of view, and provides structural support. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate protective components, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity
2Measurement precision
If channels and drainage systems are incorporated to divert obstructions, then the sensor's field of view clarity is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The channels and drainage systems are merged into the cover assembly as integrated features rather than separate components. The channels are formed as part of the cover body structure, and the drain outlet is incorporated directly into the assembly, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining effective liquid diversion and field of view clarity
Solution Approach 2:
The channels are designed with optimized geometric parameters (cross-sectional area, slope, curvature) that balance liquid diversion effectiveness with manufacturability. By carefully selecting these parameters, the assembly achieves proper liquid flow control without requiring complex machining or assembly operations
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 sensor cover assembly effectively reduces the impact of obstructions on sensor data accuracy, improving the reliability of navigation and obstacle detection systems in autonomous vehicles by maintaining clear sensor fields of view.
Implementation Method 1
the cover can be configured to shield liquid from contacting an outer surface, direct the liquid away from the outer surface, and/or direct the liquid to a particular portion of the outer surface
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for protecting a sensor from an obstruction such as liquid are discussed herein. For instance, a sensor cover assembly can include a cover to protect a sensor from precipitation, contaminants, or other obstructions. The cover of the sensor cover assembly can be configured to direct an obstruction (e.g., a liquid) away from a lens of the sensor (e.g., a ring lens of a lidar sensor) to reduce obstructions to a field of view of the sensor. The cover can include one or more channels (e.g., a trough, a downspout, a gutter, etc.) or shapes (e.g., a curved surface, a sloped surface, a convex surface, etc.) to divert the obstruction away from the lens of the sensor.