Sensor Window Cleaning via Deflector Airflow and Nozzle Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicle sensors, particularly LIDAR devices, face challenges in maintaining clear visibility due to dirt, water, or ice accumulation on the sensor window, which can obstruct the field of view and reduce detection accuracy, and existing cleaning methods often require liquid or compressed gas, potentially interfering with airflow and visibility.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning system utilizing airflow generated by the vehicle's travel, with a deflector and nozzle arrangement to create a boundary layer and direct airflow to prevent debris impact, and a liquid nozzle to eject washer fluid into the airflow for cleaning, all controlled by a computer to optimize airflow speed based on vehicle speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid or compressed gas is used to clean the sensor window, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but airflow obstruction and visibility interference occur
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful liquid or compressed gas cleaning methods are extracted and replaced with an airflow-based cleaning system that uses the vehicle's existing motion to generate cleaning airflow, eliminating the harmful side effects while maintaining cleaning effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning system utilizes the vehicle's own travel motion to generate the airflow needed for cleaning, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the need for external liquid or gas supplies that could cause airflow obstruction
2Measurement precision
If a cleaning system is added to maintain sensor visibility, then detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The airflow system serves multiple functions: it cleans the sensor window, provides aerodynamic protection by deflecting debris, and can be integrated with existing vehicle airflow systems, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining detection accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning function is merged with the vehicle's existing airflow dynamics and aerodynamic structures, combining multiple functions into a unified system that reduces complexity rather than adding separate cleaning mechanisms
3Reliability
If the sensor window is cleaned frequently to maintain accuracy, then detection reliability is improved, but loss of time and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The airflow cleaning system operates continuously during vehicle travel, maintaining constant cleaning action rather than requiring periodic interruptions for manual cleaning, thus preserving both detection reliability and travel productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The aerodynamic deflector and airflow system prevent debris accumulation before it obstructs the sensor window, performing preliminary cleaning action that eliminates the need for frequent corrective cleaning interventions
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 system effectively cleans the sensor window without obstructing the view, maintaining sensor accuracy and reducing the need for liquid or gas-based cleaning methods, ensuring continuous and accurate environmental detection while avoiding interference with human drivers' visibility.
Implementation Method 1
a deflector fixedly positioned to deflect a first airflow travelling in an opposing direction to a direction of travel of the sensor window to one or more directions tangential to the sensor window
Implementation Method 2
a nozzle fixedly positioned to direct a second airflow through the nozzle to a space between the sensor window and the deflector
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a sensor window, a deflector fixedly positioned to deflect a first airflow travelling in an opposing direction to a direction of travel of the sensor window to one or more directions tangential to the sensor window, and a nozzle fixedly positioned to direct a second airflow through the nozzle to a space between the sensor window and the deflector.