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.

There is disclosed a viewing system coupled to a motor vehicle having a frame having a roof, at least one support, and a body with the at least one support supporting the roof over the body. The system can comprise at least one camera, at least one screen coupled to the support. In addition each camera is coupled to the at least one support and wherein said at least one screen is in communication with the first set of cameras, wherein said at least one screen displays images presented by the first set of cameras. This device can provide additional view in the blind spot of the vehicle.

A LiDAR sensor may include: a housing; a window cover installed on the housing; a motor mounted in the housing; a rotating shaft rotated by the motor; a guide connected to the rotating shaft and rotated along the surface of the window cover; and a brush mounted on the guide so as to face the window cover, contacted with the window cover, and washing the surface of the window cover with rotation of the guide. The guide may include: a first guide part connected to the rotating shaft; a second guide part rotatably connected to the housing; and a third guide part connected to the first and second guide parts, formed in a U-shape so as to face the window cover, and having the brush mounted thereon.

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 camera cleaning system for an autonomous vehicle may include a platform that can accommodate multiple cameras, wiper systems, as well as a fluid delivery system. The wiper system may include a wiper, rail, and a hydraulic motion component for each camera. The platform surface that contacts the wiper system's wipers and cleaning fluid may be angled and may include a window or lens for each camera. The autonomous vehicle may include a controller that may decide when a camera cleaning protocol should be executed. Alternatively, or additionally, a camera cleaning protocol may be executed periodically, as indicated by a controller.

The telescopic washing device comprises first and second telescopic members operable along a first linear path between retracted extended positions parallel to telescopic member longitudinal axis Z; a wiper element coupled to the second telescopic member such that the wiper element is movable according to a second path lying on a plane XY perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Z; a second guiding area associated with first telescopic member or wiper element and according to second path; and a guiding element associated with the other of the first telescopic member or the wiper element to slide to the second guiding area as the first and second telescopic members move to each other. As pressurized fluid is supplied to the first telescopic member, the wiper element is at least rotated according to the second path.

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 device which is designed to detect surroundings and which includes a housing and a sensor situated within the housing. The housing includes a transmitter/receiver window, through which the corresponding sensor signals may be emitted into the surroundings by the sensor, and/or sensor signals from the surroundings may be received. The device includes a cover, the cover being designed to be transparent to the sensor signals, and the cover being designed to cover the transmitter/receiver window against exterior surroundings of the device. The device includes a cleaning unit, which is situated at an outside of the housing and is movable relative to the housing using a drive unit. The cleaning unit is designed to remove contaminants from the cover. The cleaning unit includes at least one first nozzle to spray a cleaning liquid onto the cover, and at least one second nozzle to blow a gas onto the cover.

A vehicle and/or a method for detecting contaminants on an optical surface are provided. The vehicle includes at least one light source adjacent the optical surface and at least one light detector at an edge of the optical surface. A controller is configured to introduce light from at least one light source into the optical surface, and to measure light at the edge of the optical surface with at least one detector. The controller compares the measured light to a threshold, and, if the measured light crosses the threshold, triggers or implements a response action.

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.