Pony Ai Inc.

Pony Al Inc.

Anatolii Vitanov

Peter G Diehl

Cyrus F Abari

Described herein are apparatuses and methods for selectively controlling the application of a fluid to a sensor enclosure such as a camera housing to protect the housing from overheating. An apparatus that includes a protective shield and a conduit such as tubing for supplying a fluid is described. The protective shield is provided so as to protect an exterior surface of the camera housing from heat caused by sun exposure. The tubing includes an inlet for supplying a fluid such as water or air, can extend through or around an exterior of the camera housing, and includes an outlet with one or more nozzles for ejecting the fluid into a space between the protective shield and the camera housing. Sensor data is received from various vehicle sensors to assess the temperature of the housing, the velocity of the vehicle, and so forth to determine when the fluid should be supplied.

Overheating protection for sensor housing

Described herein are sensor assembly cleaning systems and apparatuses that are adapted to rotate a transparent surface of a sensor assembly independently of a housing of the sensor assembly in order to disperse water, moisture, debris, or the like from the surface. The transparent surface may be a glass window that provides a camera of the sensor assembly with a field-of-view of an external environment. Sensor data captured from various on-board vehicle sensors such as moisture data, image data, vehicle velocity data, or the like can be evaluated against various criteria to determine when and for how long to rotate the transparent surface. Sensor data can be evaluated over a period of time to identify patterns or trends relating to one or more vehicle parameters. An activation schedule for initiating and ceasing rotation of the transparent surface can be determined based on such patterns/trends.

Rotating glass sensor cleaning system and methods of operation

Described herein is a sensor assembly and a method of operating the sensor assembly. In various embodiments, the sensor assembly can comprise a base component, a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensor, a transparent cylinder, a motor component, and a controller. The LiDAR sensor can be mounted on a support platform disposed centrally on the base component. The transparent cylinder can be disposed peripherally to the LiDAR sensor and can provide a field of view (FOV) for the LiDAR sensor. The transparent cylinder can be rotated independently of the base component. The motor component can be disposed on the base component, adjacent to the support platform. The motor component can be coupled to the transparent cylinder through a gearset and configured to rotate the transparent cylinder. The controller can be configured to obtain sensor data from on-board vehicle sensors. The controller can determine a level of obscurement on the transparent cylinder based on the sensor data. The controller can determine that the level of obscurement exceeds a threshold level of obscurement. The controller can transmit an actuation signal to the motor component to cause a rotation of the transparent cylinder at a rotational speed. The rotation of the transparent cylinder can disperse obscurements away from the transparent cylinder.

Sensor assembly and methods of operation

A method for controlling a sensor assembly cleaning apparatus includes receiving sensor data from various vehicle sensors, determining a level of obscurement of the transparent surface, and determining whether the level of obscurement exceeds a threshold level. If the transparent surface is obscured beyond the threshold level, a control signal may be sent to the apparatus to initiate the ejection of pressurized air onto the transparent surface. Optionally, the method may further evaluate other parameters such as the vehicle velocity in relation to a threshold vehicle velocity prior to sending the control signal to ensure that the cleaning operation using pressurized air would not be superfluous in light of the vehicle velocity. In addition, a method for selectively activating the sensor assembly cleaning apparatus includes determining an activation schedule for the apparatus based on an arrangement of transparent surfaces and controlling the apparatus to operate based on the activation schedule.

Methods for controlling an apparatus adapted to clean a sensor assembly

Described herein are sensor assembly cleaning apparatuses and methods of operation thereof that utilize a fluid such as pressurized air to cause dispersion of debris, rain droplets/water droplets from other sources, condensation, or any other environmental contaminant that may obscure a transparent surface such as a glass window of a camera housing from the glass window. In this manner, the pressurized air acts to clean the transparent surface, and as a result, improve the clarity of the field-of-view provided through that transparent surface to a camera housed in the camera housing. In addition, sensor assembly cleaning apparatuses described herein can include a water nozzle that is adapted to eject high pressure water onto the transparent surface as well as towards an air nozzle or an air vent that is adapted to eject the pressurized air. The water nozzle can thus be used to remove debris form the air nozzle.

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Fremont, CA, United States of America

Anatolii Vitanov