Vehicle Sensor Lens Airflow Cleaning for Debris-Free LiDAR
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicle sensors, such as LiDAR units, can be obstructed by environmental debris like rain, dust, and bugs, leading to diminished performance and reliability, with current cleaning methods using liquids that can distort or interfere with sensor signals.
Innovation Solution
An airflow device is positioned around the sensors to provide a constant or burst airflow, using a tube with an angled surface and outlet orifice to prevent debris accumulation and remove debris, potentially combined with a wash system using pressurized air and detergent for thorough cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensors are sprayed with water or liquids to clean debris, then debris is removed from the sensor surface, but residual liquid droplets distort or interfere with sensor signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the liquid-based cleaning mechanism with a pneumatic system. A compressed air source directs airflow through a tube with multiple outlets positioned around the sensor lens, creating air jets that blow debris off the surface without leaving residual contaminants that would interfere with sensor signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses compressed air (pneumatics) to generate cleaning jets. The air flow is channeled through a tube system with outlets arranged to provide comprehensive coverage of the sensor lens, using gas pressure to remove debris mechanically without liquid contamination.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If airflow device is added to clean sensors, then debris removal is achieved without liquid interference, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The airflow cleaning system is integrated with the existing sensor housing or mounting structure. The tube containing multiple outlets is positioned to serve the sensor lens, and the system can be activated by the existing autonomous vehicle control system, allowing one component to perform multiple functions while minimizing additional complexity.
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 airflow device effectively prevents debris accumulation and removes debris from the sensors, maintaining their performance and reliability without modifying the sensors, and the wash system ensures thorough cleaning of hard-to-remove debris.
Implementation Method 1
An airflow device is positioned around the sensors to provide a constant or burst airflow
Data Source
AI summary
System and methods are disclosed herein for preventing debris accumulation and/or for removing debris about a lens of a sensor of a vehicle. The sensor may include one or more LIDAR units disposed about the vehicle. An airflow device may be disposed about the lens of the sensor. The airflow device may be configured to provide an airflow about the lens of the sensor. The airflow provided to the lens may be a constant flow of air about the lens at a low pressure and/or bursts of air about the lens at a higher pressure.