Sensor cleaning apparatus, systems, and related methods for use with vehicles

An apparatus, comprising:

• a sensor of a vehicle;
• a motor operatively coupled to the sensor to enable the sensor to move linearly within a cavity of the vehicle along an axis of the cavity between a first position and a second position, the cavity including a first side surface and a second bottom surface, the axis of the cavity extending vertically;
• a mounting plate on which the sensor is mounted, the mounting plate extending laterally farther from the axis than the sensor, the mounting plate beings coupled to the motor so as to move linearly along the axis of the cavity, the mounting plate abutting the second bottom surface of the cavity when the sensor is in the second position;
• and
• a wiper fixedly coupled to the vehicle and partially defining the cavity, an edge of the wiper to engage the sensor when the sensor moves to remove debris,
• wherein the edge of the wiper remains engaged with an outer surface of the sensor as the sensor moves between the first position and the second position, and
• wherein an end of the sensor is further from an exterior surface of the vehicle in a direction parallel to the axis of the cavity in the first positon than in the second position.