Gm Cruise Holdings LLC

Brian Vaughn Gilbert

Devin Cass

Wesley Newhouse

Hongen Tu

Jason Seitz

An AV sensor can be cleaned by charging a conductive layer over a sensor surface. The conductive layer may be positively or negatively charged and can repel contaminants having the same polarity away from the sensor. The charging of the conductive layer can be triggered by a determination that the sensor needs cleaning, which can be based on sensor data captured by the sensor or a different sensor. The charging of the conductive layer may include one or more charging cycles, each of which includes charging the conductive layer with two opposing polarities. Another conductive layer may be over the conductive layer. The other conductive layer can be charged with an opposite polarity from the conductive layer so that an electric field is present between the two conductive layers. A piezoelectric layer between the two conductive layers can vibrate under the electric field. The vibration can enhance the cleaning.

System and method for cleaning sensors of autonomous vehicles

Systems and methods for detecting a convenient time to play an audible announcement. The techniques described herein can be implemented for audible announcements in various settings, including, for example, audible announcements in an autonomous vehicle and audible announcements from a mapping service on a mobile device. In an autonomous vehicle, interior microphones can be used to detect voices within the vehicle and identify pauses in conversation. Audible notifications and announcements within the autonomous vehicle can then be made during the pauses.

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Fairfax, CA, United States of America

Brian Vaughn Gilbert