Argo Ai Gmbh

Volkswagen Group of America Investments, LLC

Lg Innotek Co., Ltd.

Morgan M Wagner

Christopher Nelson St John

Dustin Ryan Yautz

Casey J Sennott

Eric K Thong

Aaron Rifkin

Elizabeth Ballard

Michael V Morelli

Michel Laverne

Koji Gardiner

Paul Karayacoubian

Duc H Vu

Bilge Kocer

Laurens M Schouten-Evers

Chris J Trowbridge

Arnab Bagchi

Miguel Angel Avila Diaz

Alan William Yip

Systems and methods are disclosed for a fanless design of a rotating LIDAR system with integrated cleaning and cooling. An example system may include an enclosure including one or more electronics. The example system may also include a cooling element provided externally to the enclosure, the cooling element comprising one or more horizontal fins.

Fanless design of a rotating LIDAR system with integrated cleaning and cooling

A method of operating a vehicle having a roof-mounted sensor apparatus includes, by a retractable sensor, capturing data about an environment along a path on which the vehicle is traveling. The method includes, by a location sensor, determining a location of the vehicle along the path. By a computing device of the vehicle, the method includes accessing a map that corresponds to the location and the path, determining that a structure having a minimum clearance is ahead at an imminent location on the path, and determining that the minimum clearance is less than or equal to an elevation of the retractable sensor. The method includes prior to the vehicle arriving at the imminent location, automatically operating a lifting element of the sensor apparatus to withdraw the retractable sensor into the sensor apparatus so that the elevation of the retractable sensor is less than the minimum clearance of the structure.

System and method for operating a retractable sensor of an autonomous vehicle

Devices, systems, and methods are provided for enhanced sensor cleaning validation. A device may receive a signal from a sensor indicative of an obstruction on the sensor. The device may activate a cleaning system at a degree of actuation responsive to the obstruction. The device may then obtain a first post-clean performance measurement of the sensor. The device may then adjust the degree of actuation of the cleaning system based on a degradation measurement between a baseline performance measurement associated with a clean performance baseline of the sensor and the first post-clean performance measurement.

Enhanced sensor cleaning validation

A mounting device includes an elongated beam having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a side surface extending between the first end portion and the second end portion. The mounting device also includes a first camera mount attached to the first end portion configured to support a first camera, a second camera mount attached to the second end portion configured to support a second camera, and a bracket for fixedly connecting the elongated beam to a vehicle. The bracket is positioned between the first end portion and the second end portion. The bracket includes at least one base configured to be attached to the vehicle and a wall extending from the at least one base comprising an opening sized to receive the elongated beam, such that engagement between the wall and the elongated beam restricts rotation of the elongated beam about multiple axes.

Mounting device for maintaining rigid alignment between cameras

Devices, systems, and methods are provided for sensor health and regression testing. A sensor testing system may include a first plurality of sensor testing targets positioned on a first side of a vehicle at a first distance from the vehicle, a second plurality of sensor testing targets positioned on a second side of the vehicle at the first distance, and a first sensor testing target positioned at a second distance from the vehicle, the second distance further from the vehicle than the first distance. The first and second pluralities of sensor testing targets both may include three or more sensor testing targets for testing cameras and light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensors of the vehicle. The first sensor testing target may be used to test at least one of camera or LIDAR data. The sensor testing system may identify degradation of sensor performance, triggering further analysis and/or repairs.

Enhanced sensor health and regression testing for vehicles

Devices, systems, and methods are provided for testing and validation of a cleaning system for a sensor such as a camera. A device may capture a first image of a target using the sensor, wherein the sensor is in a clean state, and wherein the target is in a line of sight of the sensor. The device may apply an obstruction to a portion of a lens of the sensor. The device may apply a cleaning system to the lens. The device may capture a post-clean image after applying the cleaning system. The device may determine a post-clean image quality score based on comparing the post clean image to the first image. The device may compare the post-clean image quality score to a validation threshold. The device may determine a validation state of the cleaning system based on the comparison.

Validation of a camera cleaning system

Devices, systems, and methods are provided for testing and validation of a camera. A device may capture a first image of a target using a camera, wherein the camera is in a clean state, and wherein the target is in a line of sight of the camera. The device may apply an obstruction to a portion of a lens of the camera. The device may apply a camera cleaning system to the lens of the camera. The device may capture a post-clean image after applying the camera cleaning system. The device may determine a post-clean SSIM score based on comparing the post clean image to the first image. The device may compare the post-clean SSIM score to a validation threshold. The device may determine a validation state of the camera cleaning system based on the comparison.

Devices, systems, and methods are provided for testing and validation of a camera. For example, a system includes a camera that is configured to capture an image of a content object. A processor is programmed to: receive a signal indicative of the image of the content object during an electromagnetic event; generate an image quality score of the image; and generate a validation status of the camera based on a comparison of the image quality score to a validation threshold.

Testing and validation of a camera under electromagnetic interference

Devices, systems, and methods are provided for enhanced sensor cleaning validation. A device may determine a baseline performance measurement associated with a clean performance baseline of a sensor. The device may actuate a cleaning mechanism to remove at least a portion of an obstruction deposited on the sensor. The device may determine a first post-clean performance measurement associated with the sensor. The device may determine a degradation measurement between the baseline performance measurement and the first post-clean performance measurement, wherein the degradation measurement indicates an effectiveness of the cleaning mechanism.

Devices, systems, and methods are provided for testing and validation of a camera. A device may determine a content object placed in a line of sight of a camera device, wherein the content object provides informational and visual content. The device may capture one or more images of the content object. The device may cause an electromagnetic event using an electromagnetic interference device, causing an electromagnetic event to affect an image quality of at least one of the one or more images captured by the camera device. The device may assign a structural similarity index (SSIM) score to the at least one image of the one or more images, wherein the SSIM score indicates a camera validation status of the camera device. The device may assign an SSIM score between on one image taken without the presence of interference and one image taken in the presences of the interference.

Growing community of inventors

Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

Morgan M Wagner