Windshield mounted sensor farm system including usb interface for powering accessories and data transfer

A method of operating a vehicle system, wherein the vehicle system includes a sensor farm assembly configured to mount to an interior side of a windshield, wherein the sensor farm assembly comprises a universal serial bus receiving module, wherein the universal serial bus receiving module comprises a processing module and a universal serial bus receiver, and wherein the universal serial bus receiver is configured to receive a universal serial bus connector of (i) a universal serial bus cable, or (ii) an accessory device, wherein the universal serial bus receiver is configured as a port for plugin reception of the universal serial bus connector, the method comprising:

• receiving power from a power source at the processing module of the universal serial bus receiving module via a control module of the vehicle and not via the universal serial bus connector, wherein the power source is separate from the sensor farm assembly;
• supplying power from the processing module to the universal serial bus receiver;
• and
• supplying power from the universal serial bus receiver to the accessory device via the universal serial bus connector, wherein power is supplied from the universal serial bus receiver either directly to the accessory device or indirectly via a universal serial bus cable to the accessory device, wherein the universal serial bus receiver is configured to connect to the universal serial bus cable or the accessory device.