Systems and methods for sensor cleaning on autonomous vehicles
AssigneeTORC Robotics, Inc.
InventorsFridtjof Stein, Vicent Rodrigo Marco
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for autonomous vehicle sensor cleaning utilizing at least one sensor, a processing system, and memory with executable instructions. The processor receives sensor data, detects obstructions causing operational impact on the vehicle, selects a sensor cleaning solution based on that impact, deploys it through the cleaning system, and checks for nominal sensor operation. The system supports various sensors (optical, electromagnetic, etc.) and obstruction types (dirt, snow, etc.), while determining impact to autonomous operations of the vehicle. The processor may disengage deployment of the cleaning solutions, monitor data post-deployment, and redeploy if necessary.
Claims20
A system for cleaning a sensor, the system comprising:
- at least one sensor disposed on an autonomous vehicle;
- an autonomy computing system communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor, the autonomy computing system comprising a processor coupled to a memory, the processor configured to:
- receive sensor data from the sensor;
- detect an obstruction affecting the sensor from the received sensor data;
- determine an operational impact to the autonomous vehicle caused by the detected obstruction;
- select a sensor cleaning solution based on the operational impact, wherein the sensor cleaning solution comprises at least one of:
- a first cleaning solution being liquid, or
- a second cleaning solution being liquid and including increased detergent properties compared to the first cleaning solution;
- wherein select the sensor cleaning solution further comprises:
- select the first cleaning solution when the operational impact is at or below a predetermined threshold;
- and
- select the second cleaning solution when the operational impact is at or above the predetermined threshold;
- deploy the sensor cleaning solution;
- and
- detect nominal operation of the sensor from the sensor data in response to the deployment of the sensor cleaning solution, wherein the nominal operation of the sensor indicates elimination of the obstruction.
A processing system for cleaning sensors on an autonomous truck, the processing system comprising:
- a memory storing executable instructions representing a sensor cleaning system;
- and
- a processor coupled to the memory and configured to operate the sensor cleaning system,
- the processor, upon execution of the sensor cleaning system, configured to:
- receive operating data from an autonomy system corresponding to an obstruction to a sensor;
- process the operating data to determine an operational impact;
- select a cleaning solution based on the obstruction;
- wherein select the cleaning solution further comprises:
- select a first cleaning solution when the operational impact is at or below a predetermined threshold, the first cleaning solution being liquid;
- and
- select a second cleaning solution when the operational impact is above the predetermined threshold, the second cleaning solution being liquid and including increased detergent properties compared to the first cleaning solution;
- deploy the selected cleaning solution with the sensor cleaning system;
- and
- receive additional operational data during deployment of the selected cleaning solution.
A method for cleaning a sensor disposed on an autonomous vehicle, the method comprising:
- receiving sensor data from a sensor on an autonomous vehicle;
- detecting an obstruction affecting the sensor based on the sensor data;
- determining an operational impact on the autonomous vehicle from the obstruction;
- selecting a sensor cleaning solution based on the operational impact, wherein the sensor cleaning solution comprises at least one of:
- a first cleaning solution being liquid, or
- a second cleaning solution being liquid and including increased detergent properties compared to the first cleaning solution;
- wherein selecting the sensor cleaning solution further comprises:
- selecting the first cleaning solution when the operational impact is at or below a predetermined threshold;
- and
- selecting the second cleaning solution when the operational impact is at or above the predetermined threshold
- deploying the sensor cleaning solution;
- and
- detecting nominal operation of the sensor from the sensor data in response to the deployment of the sensor cleaning solution, wherein the nominal operation of the sensor indicates elimination of the obstruction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.