Sensor Visor Cleaning Control for Targeted Contamination Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dirt and dust accumulation on vehicle sensor visors, such as LiDAR sensors, can obstruct the field of view and interfere with driving assistance systems, making it difficult to distinguish between contamination and nearby objects, and existing cleaning methods may disrupt sensor operation.
Innovation Solution
A method for controlling a cleaning assembly on a vehicle roof module that includes assessing contamination signals, setting trigger thresholds based on position, size, and vehicle speed, and initiating cleaning actions such as spraying fluid or wiping, while adapting to situational conditions to prevent unnecessary or excessive cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cleaning actions are initiated immediately upon detecting contamination, then the field of view is restored quickly, but unnecessary cleaning is performed when contamination is misidentified
Solution Approach 1:
Before initiating cleaning, the system performs preliminary assessments including position condition (is contamination in critical area?), size condition (is contamination large enough to block view?), and vehicle speed condition (will speed clear the contamination naturally?). This preliminary filtering prevents unnecessary cleaning actions and resource waste while maintaining quick response when cleaning is genuinely needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies cleaning actions selectively based on the severity and location of contamination. Instead of always performing full cleaning cycles, it adjusts the extent of cleaning based on assessment results, performing partial cleaning only when necessary and avoiding excessive cleaning that would waste resources.
2Reliability
If the sensor is configured for far-field detection to support driving assistance, then driving assistance reliability is improved, but the ability to distinguish nearby objects from visor contamination is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the detection space into far-field (for driving assistance) and near-field (for contamination detection). By using separate evaluation criteria for each zone and allowing the sensor to operate in both modes, the system maintains driving assistance reliability while gaining the adaptability to distinguish and respond to nearby objects versus visor contamination.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling a cleaning assembly of an exterior sensor module for a roof of a vehicle. The method including receiving a contamination signal; assessing whether a trigger threshold is triggered for initiating a cleaning cycle, and on triggering of the trigger threshold, initiating a cleaning cycle comprising at least one cleaning action by providing an activation signal to a cleaning assembly. Herein assessing the trigger threshold includes at least one of assessing a position of the contamination on the visor for satisfying a relevance condition, assessing size of the contamination for satisfying a surface condition; and/or assessing a vehicle speed for satisfying a speed condition. An exterior sensor module and a roof equipped with such a sensor are further provided.