SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PERCEPTION SURFACE CLEANING, DRYING, AND/OR THERMAL MANAGEMENT WITH LOCALIZED HEATING

• Main Authors: Unnikrishnan, Karthik, Lansinger, Jere R, Walp, Ian, Redding, Derrick, Hingne, Nishant, Harban, Karen, Pathak, Hrishikesh, Deane, Geoffrey F, Lansinger, Diane, Rupchandani, Varun
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 02.01.2020
• Subjects: PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, ORMANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL

Systems and methods for cleaning, drying, and thermally managing vehicle components are described herein. In some embodiments, the vehicle components can include various sensors and, more particularly, the surfaces of cameras, LIDAR sensors, etc., that need to be clean to effectively perceive the environment around the vehicle. In one embodiment, a cleaning system includes a central delivery system configured to route fluid, such as washer fluid, along one or more delivery channels to remote holding chambers. The holding chambers can hold and/or heat the fluid before delivering the fluid to nozzles that spray the fluid on nearby vehicle components to clean the components.