Image processing techniques to validate sensor cleaning

A computer-implemented method for confirming a sensor cleaning event, comprising:

• receiving a first plurality of image frames from an optical sensor;
• segmenting each of the first plurality of image frames into one or more interest regions;
• computing image statistics for each of the one or more interest regions;
• generating an image mask based on the image statistics for each of the one or more interest regions;
• receiving a second plurality of image frames from the optical sensor;
• applying the image mask to the second plurality of image frames to produce a plurality of masked image frames;
• computing image statistics for each of the plurality of masked image frames;
• and
• determining a status of a sensor cleaning event based on the image statistics for each of the plurality of masked image frames.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising at least one instruction for causing a computer or processor to:

• receive a first plurality of image frames from an optical sensor;
• segment each of the first plurality of image frames into one or more interest regions;
• compute image statistics for each of the one or more interest regions;
• generate an image mask based on the image statistics for each of the one or more interest regions;
• receive a second plurality of image frames from the optical sensor;
• apply the image mask to the second plurality of image frames to produce a plurality of masked image frames;
• compute image statistics for each of the plurality of masked image frames;
• and
• determine a status of a sensor cleaning event based on the image statistics for each of the plurality of masked image frames.