Temperature controlled camera lens mechanism for enhanced perception of sensor suites

A computer-implemented method for detecting presence of a liquid particle at a camera lens surface, the computer-implemented method comprising:

• receiving a first temperature measurement at a first time t1 and a second temperature measurement at a second time t2, wherein the first temperature measurement and the second temperature measurement are measured proximate the camera lens surface for a camera sensor using a first temperature sensor, wherein the second time t2 is later than the first time t1;
• receiving a third temperature measurement at the first time t1 and a fourth temperature measurement at the second time t2, wherein the third temperature measurement and the fourth temperature measurement are measured using a second temperature sensor for ambient air of a vehicle on which the camera sensor, the first temperature sensor, and the second temperature sensor are mounted;
• computing a first change of temperature between the second temperature measurement and the first temperature measurement;
• computing a second change of temperature between the fourth temperature measurement and the third temperature measurement;
• and
• in response to determining that the first change of temperature is greater than the second change of temperature by a predetermined threshold value, activating a heating element in proximity of the camera sensor to increase temperature and thereby reducing presence of a liquid particle at the lens surface.

An autonomous vehicle comprising:

• a plurality of camera sensors;
• at least one memory configured to store machine executable instructions;
• and
• at least one processor communicatively coupled with the at least one memory and configured to execute the machine-executable instructions for detecting presence of a liquid particle at a camera lens surface of a camera sensor of the plurality of camera sensors by performing operations comprising:
• receiving a first temperature measurement at a first time t1 and a second temperature measurement at a second time t2, wherein the first temperature measurement and the second temperature measurement are measured proximate the camera lens surface of the camera sensor using a first temperature sensor, wherein the second time t2 is later than the first time t1;
• receiving a third temperature measurement at the first time t1 and a fourth temperature measurement at the second time t2, wherein the third temperature measurement and the fourth temperature measurement are measured using a second temperature sensor for ambient air of a vehicle on which the camera sensor, the first temperature sensor, and the second temperature sensor are mounted;
• computing a first change of temperature between the second temperature measurement and the first temperature measurement;
• computing a second change of temperature between the fourth temperature measurement and the third temperature measurement;
• and
• in response to determining that the first change of temperature is greater than the second change of temperature by a predetermined threshold value, activating a heating element in proximity of the camera sensor to increase temperature and thereby reducing presence of a liquid particle at the lens surface.