Disclosed is a LIDAR apparatus for a vehicle including a light-emitting unit configured to generate and emit laser light, a light-receiving unit configured to receive reflected light based on the laser light, at least one electronic component electrically connected to the light-emitting unit and the light-receiving unit, and a case configured to accommodate the light-emitting unit, the light-receiving unit, and the electronic component therein, wherein the case is formed of a metal material, and is in contact with at least one element included in at least one of the light-emitting unit, the light-receiving unit, or the electronic component.

The subject disclosure relates to features that facilitate the automatic cleaning of optical sensors and in particular Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors used in autonomous vehicle deployments. In some aspects, the disclosed technology includes a sensor cleaning apparatus having a housing, wherein the housing is configured to be rotatably coupled to an optical sensor, a wiper blade coupled to the housing, wherein the wiper blade is disposed at a downward angle relative to a top-surface of the optical sensor, and one or more nozzles disposed within the wiper blade, wherein the nozzles are configured to apply compressed gas to a surface of the optical sensor.

A method and device for controlling EM radiation from an exposed manhole around roadways. A remote field unit controller is disposed under a manhole cover proximal to a roadway, with a sensor attached to either the manhole cover, a manhole, or the remote field unit controller, providing information of at least one of a position, acceleration, direction of the manhole cover. An EM transmitter/receiver and EM emitter/absorber are disposed under the manhole cover and an EM controller communicates to the EM transmitter. When the sensor detects sufficient movement of the manhole cover, a signal is sent to the remote field unit controller to at least one of suppress, alter, and turn off EM emissions from the EM transmitter so as to prevent EM radiation from entering the roadway. The EM transmitter is at least one of a lidar, infrared, EM, and time-of-flight emitter or sensor.

An electro-optical distance meter comprises a light source for emitting a distance measuring light, a distance measuring optical system for leading a distance measuring light to a photodetector, an internal reference optical system for leading a part of the distance measuring light as an internal reference light to the photodetector, and an arithmetic processing unit for performing a distance measurement based on light receiving results of the distance measuring light and the internal reference light, wherein the internal reference optical system comprises a condenser lens, a scattering plate for scattering the internal reference light and for forming a secondary light source, and an optical fiber for leading the internal reference light to the photodetector and the internal reference optical system is constituted in such a manner that a light component of the internal reference light emitted from an arbitrary point within a whole surface of the secondary light source enters the optical fiber.

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 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 Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) system integrated in a vehicle includes a LIDAR transmitter configured to transmit laser beams into a field of view, the field of view having a center of projection, and the LIDAR transmitter including a laser to generate the laser beams transmitted into the field of view. The LIDAR system further includes a LIDAR receiver including at least one photodetector configured to receive a reflected light beam and generate electrical signals based on the reflected light beam. The LIDAR system further includes a controller configured to receive feedback information and modify a center of projection of the field of view in a vertical direction based on the feedback information.

An autonomous vehicle (AV) can include a set of sensors generating sensor data corresponding to a surrounding environment of the AV. The AV can further include a control system that determines imminent lighting conditions for one or more cameras of the set of sensors, and executes a set of configurations for the one or more cameras to preemptively compensate for the imminent lighting conditions.

Methods, devices, and systems of a light imaging and ranging system are provided. In particular, the imaging and ranging system includes a LIDAR sensor and a low-profile optics assembly having a reflective element with a continuous and uninterrupted reflective surface surrounding a periphery of a LIDAR sensor in a light path of the LIDAR sensor. The reflective element is positioned at a distance offset from the periphery of the LIDAR sensor and directs light emitted by the LIDAR sensor to a second reflective element that is substantially similar in shape and size as the reflective element. The second reflective element is arranged above and opposite the reflective element directing the light emitted by the LIDAR sensor to a sensing environment outside the imaging and ranging system.

The vehicle control system comprises a vehicle speed acquisition device, a rotary-typed LIDAR and a controller. The vehicle speed acquisition device is configured to acquire traveling speed of a vehicle. The LIDAR is configured to acquire surrounding information of the vehicle using a laser beam. The controller is configured to control a rotational movement of the LIDAR. The controller is configured to execute processing to set a cycle of the rotational movement based on the traveling speed. In the setting processing, the controller is configured to set the cycle during the traveling speed is relatively fast to a longer cycle than that during the traveling speed is relatively slow.