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 vehicular collision avoidance system comprising a system controller, pulsed laser transmitter, a number of independent ladar sensor units, a cabling infrastructure, internal memory, a scene processor, and a data communications port is presented herein. The described invention is capable of developing a 3-D scene, and object data for targets within the scene, from multiple ladar sensor units coupled to centralized LADAR-based Collision Avoidance System (CAS). Key LADAR elements are embedded within standard headlamp and taillight assemblies. Articulating LADAR sensors cover terrain coming into view around a curve, at the crest of a hill, or at the bottom of a dip. A central laser transmitter may be split into multiple optical outputs and guided through fibers to illuminate portions of the 360° field of view surrounding the vehicle. These fibers may also serve as amplifiers to increase the optical intensity provided by a single master laser.

System for cleaning a glazed surface of a motor vehicle, including at least one wiper and a drive device for driving at least the wiper along an axis of translation, substantially perpendicular to said wiper, where the glazed surface is a detection surface of a sensor/emitter of a detection assembly and in that the drive device includes at least one drive motor driving in rotation about an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the axis of translation, and at least a conversion device converting a rotational movement of the drive motor into a rectilinear movement along the axis of translation.

The invention relates to a dispensing and spraying member intended for a cleaning system for a sensor unit of at least two optical sensors, the dispensing and spraying member being configured to dispense and/or spray at least one cleaning fluid onto at least one first optical surface of the sensor block and said member comprising an arm, which extends along a longitudinal axis, at least one supply cannula and one discharge cannula for the cleaning fluid, the arm comprising at least one plurality of openings for spraying the cleaning fluid onto at least the first optical surface.

A side view mirror wiping mechanism has a wiper blade assembly being removably attachable to a side view mirror. The wiper blade assembly is in electrical communication with a solar energy power source and is actuated via a wireless remote. The solar energy power source is wrapped about the outer surface of the side view mirror.

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.

A visibility enhancement system for a vehicle with heating conduit and a method of making a windshield wiper system where a wiper blade is configured to wipe windshield of the vehicle, a wiper blade assembly holds at least one end of the wiper blade, a motor is configured to move the wiper blade upon activation of the visibility enhancement system, and a heating conduit warms the surface of the windshield of the vehicle. The visibility enhancement system may include a wiper blade to wipe a side window of the vehicle, a pair of wiper blades to wipe a side rearview mirror. The heating conduit may comprise of any of the following: heating filaments that warms the wiper blade; heating filaments running within the windshield; an air vent that runs inside the wiper blade; and an air vent that runs parallel to the wiper blade.

Systems, devices, system-implemented methods, computer-implemented methods and/or computer program products are provided that can facilitate movement and/or cleaning of a sensor lens of a sensor system for a vehicle body. In one embodiment, the sensor system can comprise a sensor lens having a retractable portion that is moveable at least partially into and out of a chamber. The sensor system also can comprise a cleaning assembly configured to clean the retractable portion disposed within the chamber and at least partially separated from airflow exterior to the chamber. According to another embodiment, a sensor system for a vehicle body can comprise a moveable sensor lens, a cover, and a cleaning assembly configured to clean the sensor lens at least partially concealed by the cover from an environment about the vehicle body.

A wiper device having a wiper arm (20a; 20b; 20c), having at least one wiper blade (18a, 18a′, 18a″) which is coupled to the wiper arm (20a; 20b; 20c), which includes at least one wiper lip (22a, 22a′, 22a″) for wiping a surface (16a; 16b; 16c) of a protective element (14a; 14b; 14c) of a sensor device (12a), in particular of a Lidar device, and having a wiper arm guide unit (24a) which is provided for moving the wiper arm (20a; 20b; 20c) in an at least substantially translatory manner along a guide path (50a). It is proposed that the wiper device has a rotary joint (26a) by means of which the wiper blade (18a, 18a′, 18a″) is pivotably mounted on the wiper arm (20a; 20b; 20c).

A wiper device (10a-10f) for wiping a sensor system (30a-30f), in particular a lidar system, with at least one wiper unit (12a-12f), which comprises at least one wiper lip (16a-16f) for wiping a surface (38a-38f) of the sensor system (30a-30f) and with at least one pressing unit (14a-14f). It is proposed that the pressing unit (14a-14f) comprises at least one spring element (24a; 52b; 54c, 56c; 58d; 60e; 62f, 64f) for pressing the wiper unit (12a-12f) against the surface (38a-38f).