What can't be seen can hurt you. That's the thinking behind a range of fluidic, compressed-air, ultrasonic and aerodynamic cleaning gear and hydrophobic coatings for the sensors. They are a vital part of automated driving systems.
A clean windshield and healthy wipers help with driver vision and sensor capability. But only if the sensors, like the driver, are positioned behind the windshield's spritzed and swept glass. Certain thermal-imaging, night-vision and lidar sensors don't work if they're mounted under glass, so they are moving onto rooftops, the rear hatch, bumpers and fenders.
"It doesn't take much to obscure an optical sensor," explains Russell Hester, director of product development at dlhBowles, a company that engineers and manufactures automotive cleaning systems.
When optical sensors such as rearview cameras and lidars are even partially obscured by precipitation, road grime or bug spatter, their capability drops, or they stop functioning. Any vehicle using vision-style sensors for park assist, adaptive cruise, automatic emergency braking or lane keeping needs a clear view to ensure consistent operation.