Lyft, Inc.

Woven Planet North America, Inc.

Chen-yu Hsieh

Catalin Popovici

In general, one or more loads on a vehicle can be connected to both a first voltage source on the vehicle and a backup vehicle power system on the vehicle. If the voltage provided by the first voltage source to the one or more loads satisfies a voltage threshold, the backup vehicle power system does not provide power to the one or more loads. However, if the voltage provided by the first voltage source to the one or more loads falls below the voltage threshold, the backup vehicle power system provides power to the one or more loads.

Vehicle redundant energy system

In general, one or more loads, such as a sensor suite of an autonomous (or semi-autonomous) vehicle, may be configured to draw power from a supercapacitor. A switching mechanism can selectively connect or disconnect the one or more loads and the supercapacitor from a voltage source of a vehicle power system. By systematically disconnecting the voltage source from the supercapacitor and the one or more loads, the exposure of the voltage source to the one or more loads is minimized. Accordingly, the exposure of the voltage source of the vehicle power system to potentially damaging short circuits or power surges that may arise in relation to the one or more loads can also be minimized.

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

Chen-yu Hsieh