A clutter filter configuration tool for a safety laser scanner. The clutter filter configuration tool may first operate the safety laser scanner in an environment to learn the environmental clutter level and present the same to a user. Subsequent to this “teach-in” phase, the configuration tool may provide a clutter filter selection process which presents the environmental clutter level to the user and allows the user to select a suitable configuration for a clutter filter. The configuration tool may also provide a clutter filter simulation process wherein the clutter filter chosen by the user is verified and a test is performed using the selected clutter filter. The results may be reported on a visualized graph. The configuration tool may also determine a real area to be monitored utilizing a floor projection area and an orientation of the laser scanner.

A protective cover system for a motor vehicle includes a first roller, a first cover wound onto the first roller, a second roller and a second cover wound onto the second roller. The protective cover system also includes a control module for displacing the covers between stowed and deployed positions covering one or both of the motor vehicle bumper and an interior cargo floor of the motor vehicle.

A method and system having a water-flush toilet having a toilet bowl that is in fluid communication with a water source and is mounted with a sensor. The sensor includes a transmitter to transmit an ultrasonic signal and a receiver to receive an ultrasonic signal. The sensor may measure a Time of Flight (ToF) of the signal to obtain a ToF measurement. A microcontroller is electrically connected to the sensor and may receive and process the ToF measurement using an algorithm to determine a bowl status. The toilet also includes at least one water valve that is disposed between the bowl and the water source, and that is electrically connected to the microcontroller for instructing the at least one water valve to move from a first position to a second position for a duration of time, wherein the duration of time corresponds to the bowl status.

Provided are non-uniform light-emitting lidar (light detection and ranging) apparatuses and autonomous robots including the same. A lidar apparatus may include a light source configured to emit light, an optical unit arranged on an optical path of light emitted from the light source and configured to change an optical profile of the light to be non-uniform, and a 3D sensor configured to sense location of an object by receiving reflection light from the object.

A LIDAR system, comprising: (a) a plurality of anchored LIDAR sensing units, each anchored LIDAR sensing unit comprising at least: (i) a housing; (ii) at least one detector, mounted in the housing, configured to detect light signals arriving from objects in a field of view of the anchored LIDAR sensing unit; and (iii) a communication unit, configured to output detection information which is based on outputs of the at least one detector and which is indicative of existence of the objects; and (b) at least one integratory processing unit, configured to receive the detection information from two or more of the plurality of anchored LIDAR sensing units, and to process the received detection information to provide a three dimensional model of a scene which is larger than any of the field of views of the independent anchored LIDAR sensing units.

A system is presented in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In various embodiments, the system includes a light source configured to emit light, an emitting lens positioned to obtain the emitted light and configured to produce a shaped beam, an optical element positioned to obtain the shaped beam and redirect the shaped beam toward a near field object to produce scattered light from the near field object, and to obtain and redirect at least a portion of the scattered light, and a collection lens configured to focus the at least the portion of the scattered light on a light detector.

A system is presented in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In various embodiments, the system includes a light source configured to emit light, an emitting lens positioned to obtain the emitted light and configured to produce a shaped beam, an optical element positioned to obtain the shaped beam and redirect the shaped beam toward a near field object to produce scattered light from the near field object, and to obtain and redirect at least a portion of the scattered light, and a collection lens configured to focus the at least the portion of the scattered light on a light detector.

An optical receiving module may include: a light transmitting body configured to transmit light; a light incidence part through which light is incident into the light transmitting body; and a plurality of reflectors configured to reflect the light incident from the light incidence part a plurality of times, such that the light is incident toward a light receiver unit.

An optical receiving module may include: a light transmitting body configured to transmit light; a light incidence part through which light is incident into the light transmitting body; and a plurality of reflectors configured to reflect the light incident from the light incidence part a plurality of times, such that the light is incident toward a light receiver unit.

The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for configuring architectures for a sensor, and more particularly for light detection and ranging (hereinafter, “LIDAR”) systems based on ASIC sensor architectures supporting autonomous navigation systems. Effective ASIC sensor architecture can enable an improved correlation between sensor data as well as configurability and responsiveness of the system to its surrounding environment and avoid any unnecessary delay within the decision-making process that may result in a failure of the autonomous driving system. It may be essential to integrated multiple functions within an electronic module and implement the functionality with one or more ASICs.