Hydrophilic material and coating for automotive lidar sensor covers

A weather resistant autonomous driving sensor unit comprising:

• one or more light detection and ranging sensors connected to an autonomous vehicle driving system;
• a cover having an inside surface facing the one or more light detection and ranging sensors and an external surface facing an external environment of a vehicle, wherein the cover forms at least part of a vehicle grille, bumper or front end module;
• a hydrophilic coating on the external surface of the cover, wherein the hydrophilic coating provides a droplet thickness to diameter ratio of less than 0.3 when the water contact angle on the external surface of the cover is less than 40 degrees or between about 25 degrees to about 40 degrees, wherein the cover includes a core layer, a first anti-abrasion coating between the cover and the hydrophilic coating, a second anti-abrasion coating between on a side of the core layer opposite to the first anti-abrasion coating, and an anti-reflective coating layer applied over the second anti-abrasion coating layer.