Roof Sensor Pod Assembly for Fast Swap and Vibration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle sensor pod mounting systems lack efficient and quick methods for swapping, calibrating, repairing, or replacing sensor pods without requiring the removal of the entire mounting assembly, and they often fail to provide universal attachment compatibility with various vehicle styles and sensor pod types.
Innovation Solution
A roof-mounted sensor pod assembly with a connecting assembly that allows for quick and easy attachment and detachment of sensor pods, featuring a vehicle portion integral with the vehicle and a sensor pod portion that can be removably coupled, enabling rotation for impact absorption and secure attachment with shear bolts to prevent vibration, and supporting the weight of the sensor pod during installation and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensor pods are permanently fixed to the vehicle, then structural stability is improved, but ease of repair and replacement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is divided into two segments: a permanent vehicle portion integrated with the vehicle structure and a removable sensor pod portion. This segmentation allows the sensor pod to be easily separated from the vehicle for repair or replacement while keeping the mounting infrastructure permanently fixed, thus resolving the contradiction between structural stability and ease of repair.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting assembly transitions from a static permanent connection to a dynamic system that can change state between connected and disconnected. The sensor pod portion can be moved between attached and removed positions, enabling easy maintenance while maintaining structural integrity when connected.
2Ease of repair
If the entire mounting assembly is removed for sensor pod replacement, then ease of repair is improved, but loss of time and complexity of operation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the sensor pod portion from the vehicle portion of the mounting assembly, the system enables independent removal of only the sensor pod. This eliminates the time-consuming process of removing the entire mounting assembly while maintaining full accessibility to the sensor pod for repair and replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor pod portion is extracted as a separate removable component from the mounting assembly. This extraction allows the sensor pod to be independently removed and replaced without affecting the permanent vehicle portion, significantly reducing replacement time and operational complexity.
3Measurement precision
If sensor pods are securely fixed to prevent vibration, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of removal for calibration deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting assembly provides a dynamic connection that delivers strong vibration-resistant holding force during operation while allowing easy release for calibration. The mechanical fastening system maintains secure attachment under vibrational loads but can be quickly disengaged when calibration is needed, resolving the contradiction between secure fixation and ease of removal.
Data Source
AI summary
A roof mounted sensor pod assembly for a vehicle having a sensor pod configured to couple to the vehicle and a connecting assembly. The connecting assembly having a vehicle portion integral with the vehicle and a sensor pod portion attached to the sensor pod and removably coupled to the vehicle portion. The connecting assembly is configured to allow the sensor pod to be removably coupled to the vehicle. A vehicle includes a roof mounted sensor pod assembly.