An exterior camera lens cleaning system for a vehicle may include: a base unit fixed to the vehicle; a housing unit configured to be rotatable with respect to the base unit; a camera unit including a camera module, the camera unit at least partially inserted into the housing unit and configured to move in a longitudinal direction of the housing unit; a wiper disposed on an inside surface of the housing unit so as to face the camera module; and a control unit configured to receive video data through the camera module, to control a rotation operation of the housing unit based on a state of the vehicle, and to control an extension operation of the camera unit. The camera unit may be interlocked with the housing unit, and when the housing unit is rotated by the control unit, the camera unit may be configured to move horizontally in the longitudinal direction of the housing unit.

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.

The present teaching relates to method and system for an assembly for protecting a sensor. The assembly includes a first structure having a rectangular prism and connected with a truncated tube, wherein the rectangular prism and the truncated tube have parallel longitudinal axes and the tube is truncated to yield a cross section having a norm that forms an angle with the longitudinal axis of the truncated tube and a second structure of a trapezoid prism having a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axes and with the first structure embedded therein. The second structure has a slanted surface in the front that meets the cross section of the truncated tube and has the norm of the cross section.

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 sensor enclosure comprising a domed cover and a base. The base can be encased by the domed cover. The base comprises an inner frame, an outer frame, one or more wipers, and a powertrain. The inner frame can provide surfaces for one or more sensors. The outer frame, disposed underneath the inner frame, the outer frame includes a slewing ring. The slewing ring comprises an inner ring to which the domed cover is attached and an outer ring attached to the outer frame. The one or more wipers extends vertically from the outer frame, each wiper having a first end attached to the outer frame and a second end attached to a support ring, and each wiper making a contact with the dome cover. The powertrain, disposed within the outer frame, configured to rotate the ring and the dome cover attached to the inner ring.

A wiping device for an optical device with a lens includes a surface, such as a curved or calotte-shaped surface, where the wiping device has a wiping element for wiping the surface of the lens free from water and dirt particles with at least one passage channel and at least one outlet channel which branches off from the passage channel in order to guide cleaning fluid onto the surface of the lens. In addition, a rear view device for a motor vehicle with an optical device includes such a wiping device.

The present disclosure relates to vehicle technology, and more particularly, to an unmanned vehicle and its sensor device and cleaning mechanism. The cleaning mechanism includes: a housing, a cleaning element, a driving component transmissively connected to the cleaning element and a control unit installed within a receiving cavity. The housing has a light transmissive element provided on a side surface thereof. The cleaning element is pivotable about one end thereof and mounted to the housing. The cleaning element, when pivoting, frictionally interacts with a surface of the light transmissive element that is away from the receiving cavity to clean the light transmissive element. The control unit is communicatively connected to the driving component for controlling the driving component.

The invention concerns a module (10) for cleaning a device (3) for protection of an optical element having a surface of revolution around an axis of revolution, the cleaning module (10) including a wiper blade (11) configured to extend in a first general direction (D1) and including a wiper rubber (111) configured to extend in a second general direction (D2). According to the invention: the wiper rubber (111) is configured to wipe the surface of revolution during relative movement of rotation between the wiper blade (11) and the protection device (3), and the cleaning module (10) further includes a cleaning liquid feed pipe (13) fixed to the wiper blade (11) and including at least one opening (131) for spraying cleaning liquid disposed in such a manner as to define a spraying direction forming an angle less than 15° with the second direction (D2). The invention also concerns a corresponding driving assistance system.

The apparatus for cleaning a surface comprises a housing for accommodating an object whose surface is to be cleaned, a wiper driving actuator adjacent the surface to be cleaned, the wiper driving actuator comprising an at least partially closed loop adapted to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the housing, and at least one wiper assembly operable by the wiper driving actuator to move along the at least partially closed loop and having a first end that is attached to the wiper driving actuator, the wiper assembly being movably mounted in the housing such that, in use, a constant distance is kept between the wiper assembly and the surface to be cleaned.

A structural unit for provision in the front end or in the tail end of a motor vehicle, wherein the structural unit comprises a support body and at least two environment sensing systems, wherein the environment sensing systems are received on the support body.