Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Valeo North America, Inc.

Kunal Singh

Venkatesh Krishnan

Raghuraman Surineedi

Rashaun Phinisee

Tyler D Hamilton

Michael Robertson, Jr

Ashwin Arunmozhi

Michael Whitney

David Brian Glickman

Segundo Baldovino

Andre Sykula

William Terrasse

Darshan Arun Nayak

Anthony Michael Regalbuto

Jose Alberto Gomez Ramirez

Denis Thebault

Shibu Koyadan Chathoth

Gowtham Ilanthirayan

Veeramanikandan Gopal

Yoann Dolle

Yifu Xiao

Benjamin Graham

An assembly includes a base. The assembly includes an object detection sensor. The assembly includes a deflector extending upward from the base in front of the object detection sensor. The deflector is configured to direct ram air away from the object detection sensor. The assembly includes a nozzle supported by the deflector and aimed at the object detection sensor.

Vehicle sensor assembly

A sensor apparatus includes a cylindrical sensor window defining an axis and a ring fixed relative to the sensor window and centered around the axis. The ring includes a liquid chamber, at least one nozzle, and an air chamber. The liquid chamber is elongated circumferentially around the axis. The at least one nozzle is fluidly connected to the liquid chamber and has a direction of discharge aimed at the sensor window. The air chamber is elongated circumferentially around the axis alongside the liquid chamber. The air chamber lacks inlets and outlets.

Sensor apparatus with cleaning

A sensor apparatus includes a first sensing device, a sensor housing, a bracket, a second sensor, and a channel plate. The sensor housing includes a first sensor window and a top panel, and the first sensing device has a field of view through the first sensor window. The bracket is mounted on top of the top plate. The second sensor is held by the bracket and includes a second sensor window. The channel plate is fixed to the bracket. The bracket includes a first nozzle aimed at the first sensor window and a second nozzle aimed at the second sensor window. The bracket includes a channel fluidly connected to the first nozzle and the second nozzle. The channel plate covers the channel.

A sensor system includes a pump, a valve supplied from the pump, a sensor fixed relative to the pump, a nozzle supplied from the valve and aimed at the sensor, and a computer communicatively coupled to the pump, the valve, and the sensor. The computer is programmed to instruct the pump to operate; while the pump is operating, instruct the valve to close; receive data from the sensor while the pump is operating and the valve is instructed to be closed; and set a flag upon determining, based on the data received from the sensor, that the nozzle is outputting fluid onto the sensor.

Sensor system cleaning with valve testing

A sensor assembly includes a sensor including a sensor lens, a casing mounted to the sensor, and a fluid nozzle mounted to the casing. The casing at least partially defines a duct positioned to outlet airflow across the sensor lens, and the duct defines a direction of airflow. The fluid nozzle is aimed through the duct in the direction of airflow.

Sensor assembly with cleaning

A sensor apparatus includes a housing attachable to a vehicle and including a panel, a sensor window, a liquid nozzle fixed relative to the housing, and a tunnel. The panel includes a port. The sensor window is positioned in the port. The liquid nozzle is aimed at the sensor window. The liquid nozzle is positioned in a first horizontal direction from the port along the panel. The tunnel extends along the panel and is positioned in a second horizontal direction from the port, the second horizontal direction being opposite the first horizontal direction. The tunnel terminates at an opening positioned to receive fluid outputted by the nozzle.

A sensor-cleaning apparatus includes an upper piece, a lower piece fixed to the upper piece, a plurality of inserts inserted into the upper piece, and a plurality of nozzles. The upper piece and the lower piece form a tubular segment that is elongated along an arc of a circle and encloses a chamber. Each nozzle is formed of the upper piece and one of the inserts. Each nozzle includes a deflection surface and a tunnel from the chamber to the deflection surface, and each tunnel is partially formed of the upper piece and partially formed of the respective insert.

Cleaning apparatus for sensor

A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to identify a sensor of a vehicle with a robotic arm, capture a plurality of images of the sensor with an unmanned aerial vehicle, and actuate the robotic arm to perform maintenance on the sensor upon inputting the plurality of images to an image recognition program and obtaining output that the sensor requires maintenance.

Vehicle maintenance

A sensor apparatus includes a sensor window, a nozzle head coupled to the sensor window and including a first orifice and a second orifice, and a deflector fixed relative to the sensor window. The first orifice is shaped to discharge onto a first region of the sensor window. The second orifice is shaped to discharge onto a second region of the sensor window. The deflector is positioned to deflect at least some of the discharge from the second orifice onto a third region of the sensor window.

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Farmington Hills, MI, United States of America

Kunal Singh