A vehicle control apparatus includes one or more electronic control units configured to execute autonomous traveling control of a vehicle based on detection results of a plurality of sensors, a cleaner configured to clean dirt off of at least one of the plurality of sensors. The one or more electronic control units are configured to determine, when cleaning of dirt of a first sensor is executed, whether or not execution of the autonomous traveling control can be continued based on a detection result of one or more remaining sensors among the plurality of sensors, control the vehicle such that a required detection range is narrowed in case it is determined that the execution of the autonomous traveling control cannot be continued, and control the cleaner such that the cleaner cleans dirt off of the first sensor while continuing the execution of the autonomous traveling control.

The present disclosure provides a vehicle wiper-washer device including: a wiper motor causing to-and-fro wiping operation on a wiping surface by a wiper blade coupled to a wiper arm; a washer pump that feeds washer fluid under pressure to a jetting portion provided to at least one of the wiper blade or the wiper arm, to cause washer fluid to be jetted from the jetting portion toward the wiping surface on an outward movement direction side of the wiper blade during the to-and-fro wiping operation; and a control unit that, when a predetermined signal is detected, controls the wiper motor and the washer pump such that the to-and-fro wiping operation is performed, and such that washer fluid is jetted from the jetting portion toward the wiping surface on the outward movement direction side while a return path wiping operation of the to-and-fro wiping operation is being performed.

A vehicle washing device, including: a wiping section configured to wipe a predetermined range on a windshield of a vehicle, the predetermined range including an imaging range of an imaging section configured to image an exterior of the vehicle through the windshield from inside a vehicle cabin; and a spraying section provided outside the vehicle cabin and configured to spray a washer liquid onto the windshield, the spraying section having a spray direction of the washer liquid configured such that a spray region of the washer liquid interposed between a pair of tangents, each extending from the spraying section and tangential to a landing region at which the sprayed washer liquid lands on the windshield, has an overlap with the imaging range of no greater than a predetermined proportion of the imaging range, or such that the spray region is separated from a predetermined region of the imaging range.

The vehicle control apparatus is mounted on a vehicle. The vehicle control apparatus includes a cleaning unit capable of performing a first cleaning operation to clean a detecting surface part of a LiDAR using cleaning fluid, and a cleaning control ECU configured to execute a first light-degree cleaning process to let the first cleaning unit perform a first cleaning operation for a first light-degree cleaning time. The cleaning control ECU executes the first light-degree cleaning process when a first light-degree cleaning condition becomes satisfied within a first allowable period.

The invention relates to a method for cleaning an optical surface of an optical system for a motor vehicle, based on a cleaning device having a first and second spray nozzles for spraying a cleaning fluid, the cleaning device being arranged relative to the optical system such that, in the cleaning position, the first spray nozzle sprays the cleaning fluid onto a first portion of the optical surface and the second spray nozzle sprays the cleaning fluid onto a second portion of the optical surface, including activating the first spray nozzle depending on a first state of at least one item of aerodynamic data, and activating the second spray nozzle depending on a second state of at least one item of aerodynamic data.

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.

A vehicle cleaning system includes a wiper motor, a vehicle wiper, a washer nozzle, a washer pump, and a controller. The wiper motor forwardly and reversely rotates an output shaft. The vehicle wiper is coupled to the output shaft and reciprocally wipes a surface for wiping in accordance with forward and reverse rotations of the output shaft. The washer nozzle is arranged on the vehicle wiper. The washer pump feeds a washer fluid to the washer nozzle. The controller controls the wiper motor and the washer pump. The controller drives the washer pump so that the washer fluid is ejected in a direction in which accumulated snow is present based on a determination that the vehicle wiper is in a constrained state caused by accumulated snow.

A wiper system to apply wiper fluid to a vehicle window includes at least one wiper arm, at least one sensor, and at least one control apparatus. The sensor is configured to detect, during a wiping operation, the wiper arm in at least one defined position in a wiping area of the wiper arm, and to send a detection signal to the control apparatus.

A system includes a computer having a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to determine a first temperature of a fluid stored by a fluid storage device and then actuate a fluid heating device to add heat energy to the fluid. The instructions include instructions to determine an amount of the heat energy added to the fluid. The instructions include instructions to determine a second temperature of the fluid stored by the fluid storage device after adding the heat energy to the fluid. The instructions include instructions to determine a quantity of the fluid stored by the fluid storage device based on the amount of the heat energy added to the fluid by the fluid heating device and a difference between the first temperature and the second temperature.

A snow removing device includes a heater that is disposed in a moving body that has a light including a cover and a cleaner that ejects a washer solution toward an outer surface of the cover. The cover is exposed to an outside of the moving body, covers a light source, and allows light emitted from the light source to pass therethrough. The snow removing device further includes a control unit that controls the heater to heat the cover first, and then controls the cleaner to eject a washer solution toward the outer surface of the cover.