Deployable camera systems

A deployable camera system for a vehicle, the deployable camera system comprising:

• a body defining a cavity therein;
• a camera including a housing having an exterior surface, wherein the camera is reversibly transitionable between a stowed position in which the camera is recessed into the cavity and the exterior surface is substantially flush with the body, and a deployed position in which the camera protrudes from the cavity and the exterior surface is substantially flush with the body;
• a linkage abutting the housing and configured for pivoting about a first axis between a first position wherein the camera is disposed in the stowed position, and a second position wherein the camera is disposed in the deployed position;
• a first shape memory alloy element coupled to the linkage and transitionable between a first state and a second state in response to a first thermal activation signal to thereby pivot the housing about a second axis that is substantially parallel to the first axis so that the linkage pivots from the first position to the second position;
• and
• a second shape memory alloy element coupled to the linkage and transitionable between the first state and the second state in response to a second thermal activation signal to thereby pivot the housing about the second axis so that the linkage pivots from the second position to the first position.

A deployable camera system for a vehicle, the deployable camera system comprising:

• a body defining a cavity therein;
• a camera including a housing having an exterior surface, wherein the camera is reversibly transitionable between a stowed position in which the camera is recessed into the cavity and the exterior surface is substantially flush with the body, and a deployed position in which the camera protrudes from the cavity and the exterior surface is not substantially flush with the body;
• a member defining a channel therein;
• a pin operably coupled to the camera and translatable within the channel;
• and
• a first shape memory alloy element coupled to the pin and transitionable between a first state and a second state in response to a first thermal activation signal to thereby translate the pin within the channel between:
• an initial position wherein the camera is disposed in the stowed position;
• a secondary position wherein the camera is disposed in the deployed position and the first shape memory alloy element is in the second state;
• a nominal position wherein the camera is disposed in the deployed position and the first shape memory alloy element is in the first state;
• and
• a tertiary position wherein the camera is disposed in the deployed position and the first shape memory alloy element is in the second state.