A method comprising: determining that there is debris (e.g. dirt, dust etc.) on a vehicle sensor 505, 510, e.g. a camera or light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor (16, 18, 32; figs 1-2) used for autonomous driving; determining an absence of ongoing execution of a collision avoidance instruction 530; and based on the determinations, applying a fluid to the sensor 550. The fluid may be applied based on the measured rain rate being less than or equal to a threshold. The fluid may be applied during a predetermined time interval, e.g. three seconds, in which it is determined that collision avoidance will not be initiated. Compressed air may be applied to the sensor 520 based on the determination of debris and then, if the debris is not removed 525, a cleaning liquid may be applied 550. Fluid may be sequentially applied to first and second sensors in a common zone of the vehicle. Fluid may be pumped to multiple sensors.
Cleaning vehicle sensors
2019-01-09
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B60S SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR , Warten, Reinigen, Instandsetzen, Unterstützen, Anheben oder Rangieren von Fahrzeugen, soweit nicht anderweitig vorgesehen / B60W CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION , Gemeinsame Steuerung oder Regelung von Fahrzeug-Unteraggregaten verschiedenen Typs oder verschiedener Funktion / G01S RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING , Funkpeilung |