Sensor Protection Mechanism for Autonomous Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face challenges in maintaining accurate and uninterrupted sensor performance due to exposure to environmental factors like rain, snow, dust, and debris, which can lead to tampering and degradation of sensors, affecting their ability to provide reliable information for safe driving.
Innovation Solution
A sensor protection mechanism that includes a cleaning need determiner, a cleaning activity configuration unit, and a cleaning control signal generator to assess and address sensor degradation by selecting appropriate cleaning methods, such as fluid spraying, wiper blades, and air blowers, to maintain sensor clarity and functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensors are deployed on autonomous vehicles to continuously provide accurate information, then the reliability of autonomous driving is improved, but the sensors are exposed to environmental factors like rain, snow, dust, and debris which cause degradation and tampering
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cleaning actions before environmental contamination significantly degrades sensor performance. The cleaning mechanism proactively removes dust, debris, and contaminants from sensor surfaces using fluid spraying, wiper blades, and air blowers, preventing accumulation that would compromise sensing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces cleaning devices as intermediary components between the harmful environment and the sensors. These intermediaries (fluid sprayers, wipers, air blowers) act as protective barriers that actively remove contaminants, shielding the sensors from direct exposure to environmental degradation factors.
2Reliability
If cleaning operations are applied to sensor assemblies to prevent degradation, then sensor clarity and functionality are maintained, but the system complexity increases due to multiple cleaning devices and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system employs multi-functional devices that can perform multiple cleaning operations. For example, the same cleaning assembly can switch between fluid spraying, wiper blade activation, and air blower operations depending on the type and severity of contamination detected, reducing the need for separate dedicated devices for each cleaning method.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that monitor their own contamination levels and automatically trigger appropriate cleaning operations without external intervention. The sensor assembly self-diagnoses its cleanliness state and activates the necessary cleaning mechanisms, reducing the need for complex external control systems.
3Reliability
If multiple cleaning devices are mounted on the sensor assembly to address different types of contamination, then the effectiveness of cleaning is improved, but the weight and space requirements of the vehicle increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple cleaning functions into integrated assemblies mounted on the sensor housing. Fluid sprayers, wiper blades, and air blowers are merged into compact unified structures that share common mounting points, control systems, and fluid reservoirs, minimizing redundant components and reducing overall weight compared to separate cleaning systems.
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 solution ensures continuous, accurate sensor performance by preventing degradation from environmental factors and tampering, enhancing the reliability of autonomous driving systems.
Implementation Method 1
fluid spraying
Implementation Method 2
air blowers
Data Source
AI summary
The present teaching relates to method, system, medium, and implementation for sensor protection. It is determined whether a cleaning operation needs to be applied to a portion of a sensor assembly deployed on a vehicle and hosting a sensor therein to acquire information of a surrounding through the portion to facilitate autonomous driving. If the cleaning operation is to be applied, at least one type of cleaning is selected to be carried out by one or more devices mounted on the sensor assembly with respect to the portion. For each of the devices, needed control signal is generated for activating the device to perform a cleaning task the device is configured for and sent to the device to clean the certain portion of the sensor assembly in order to prevent degradation in the information acquired by the sensor through the portion.