Tiltable Sensor Housing Window for Autonomous Vehicle Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicle sensor devices face performance degradation due to residual cleaning solutions and debris on the housing window, which existing cleaning methods fail to completely remove, leading to suboptimal imaging capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A glass cleaning system with a motor-actuated window that tilts inward for efficient drainage, combined with a spray nozzle for cleaning agent application and gas ejection to clear debris without obstructing the vision system, utilizing a filtration system to recycle the cleaning agent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional washing method is used to clean the housing window, then the cleaning process is simple, but residual cleaning solution remains on the window surface leading to suboptimal sensor performance
Solution Approach 1:
The window is made tiltable relative to the housing, allowing it to change orientation during the cleaning process. This dynamic adjustment enables the window to be tilted at an angle that facilitates drainage of cleaning solution, preventing residue accumulation while maintaining a relatively simple cleaning system structure
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning system adds the dimension of window orientation control by enabling the window to tilt. This dimensional change allows cleaning solution to drain off the window surface more effectively, eliminating residual detergent problems without requiring complex additional cleaning mechanisms
2Productivity
If the window is tilted inward for drainage, then cleaning solution drains efficiently, but the vision system may be obstructed during the cleaning process
Solution Approach 1:
The window is tilted inward at the beginning of the cleaning process to enable efficient drainage of cleaning solution. This preliminary action ensures that excess liquid drains away before the vision system needs to operate, preventing obstruction while maintaining cleaning efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The window tilting operation is performed periodically or in stages during the cleaning process. The window is tilted inward during the washing phase to maximize drainage, then returned to its normal position before the vision system resumes operation, thus alternating between cleaning efficiency and system operational reliability
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
Ensures continuous, unobstructed monitoring by effectively removing debris and residual cleaning solutions, maintaining the reliability and accuracy of the vision system's object detection and distance measurement functions.
Implementation Method 1
at least one spray nozzle
Implementation Method 2
window tilted at an angle that facilitates drainage
Data Source
AI summary
A glass cleaning system includes: a housing including at least one peripheral sidewalls being substantially perpendicular relative to a side of a vehicle to which the housing is attached, a cover, and a vision system including at least one sensor and processing circuitry, wherein the vision system is disposed in an interior of the housing, the at least one sensor is communicatively coupled to the processing circuitry, and the vision system is configured to be used with the vehicle to detect surrounding objects and determine distances between said objects and the vehicle; a window mounted as the at least one peripheral sidewall of the housing and configured to tilt towards the interior of the housing into an angled orientation and back; a drain duct disposed in the interior of the housing; and at least one spray nozzle.