Waymo LLC

Other

Peter Avram

Jeremy Dittmer

Giulia Guidi

Kimberly Geneva Toth

Paul Thomas Hansen Karplus

Graham Doorley

Pierre-yves Droz

Samuel William Lenius

Anthony Scott Levandowski

Gaetan Pennecot

Bernard G Fidric

Luke Wachter

Drew Eugene Ulrich

Zachary Morriss

Daniel Gruver

William McCann

Rahim Pardhan

Pierre-Yves Droz

Dorel Ionut Iordache

Paul Yeomans

William Mccann

Anthony Levandowski

Bernard Fidric

YooJung Ahn

Joshua Newby

Thomas Southworth

Ionut Iordache

The technology relates to an exterior sensor system for a vehicle configured to operate in an autonomous driving mode. The technology includes a close-in sensing (CIS) camera system to address blind spots around the vehicle. The CIS system is used to detect objects within a few meters of the vehicle. Based on object classification, the system is able to make real-time driving decisions. Classification is enhanced by employing cameras in conjunction with lidar sensors. The specific arrangement of multiple sensors in a single sensor housing is also important to object detection and classification. Thus, the positioning of the sensors and support components are selected to avoid occlusion and to otherwise prevent interference between the various sensor housing elements.

Perimeter sensor housings

A vehicle is provided that includes one or more wheels positioned at a bottom side of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a first light detection and ranging device (LIDAR) positioned at a top side of the vehicle opposite to the bottom side. The first LIDAR is configured to scan an environment around the vehicle based on rotation of the first LIDAR about an axis. The first LIDAR has a first resolution. The vehicle also includes a second LIDAR configured to scan a field-of-view of the environment that extends away from the vehicle along a viewing direction of the second LIDAR. The second LIDAR has a second resolution. The vehicle also includes a controller configured to operate the vehicle based on the scans of the environment by the first LIDAR and the second LIDAR.

Vehicle with multiple light detection and ranging devices (LIDARs)

Close-in sensing camera system

A system includes a dome, a wiper assembly, a position sensor and a control device. The wiper assembly includes a wiper blade configured to rotate around the dome. The position sensor may be configured to send a signal to a control device when a wiper blade passes the position sensor. The control device may include one or more processors configured to receive the signal from the position sensor and determine a location of the wiper blade relative to the dome based on the received signal.

Control for passive wiper system

Vehicle with multiple light detection and ranging devices (LIDARS)

A cooling device includes a duct, a passageway, and a plurality of nozzles spaced around the duct. The duct is sized to extend around at least a portion of the dome. The passageway may extend through the duct. The plurality of nozzles may be spaced around the duct and have first openings oriented toward the passageway and second openings oriented toward the surface.

Cooling system for dome of autonomous vehicle

Autonomous vehicle roof housing

Growing community of inventors

Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Peter Avram