The two companies dlhBOWLES and RAPA have joined forces to clean the sensors.
The eyes and ears of the autonomous vehicles are the ones Sensorswhich are available in a variety. Be it lidar, radar, camera or ultrasonic sensors – they have one thing in common: they have to be cleaned of dirt in order to function properly.
Lidar sensor on the roof
The vehicles cannot simply enter the Car wash drive, because that could damage the sensors or at least they would have to be calibrated afterwards. Both the industry leader Waymo has a technology for cleaning of the sensors as well, for example Clarion.
This procedure seems unimportant, but a dirty sensor, be it raindrops, mud, bird droppings or dead insects, can severely impair autonomous driving and pose a danger. Therefore, the liquid distribution specialist dlhBOWLES and the valve manufacturer RAPA have taken on the matter together.
dlhBOWLES has developed systems that optimize fluid consumption, because their remnants can also impair visibility. This is how magnetic distribution systems from the German manufacturer RAPA are used. This allows you to control the air and liquid content. In addition, hoses and nozzles were adapted.
The concept is said to be in the next five years are increasingly marketed with the advent of vehicles. Until then, you want to further improve the cleaning technology. You also want to find a precise definition of dirty and clean in the area of sensors. Because that can vary depending on the degree of contamination and sensors. The cleaning must then take place in a timely manner.
About David Fluhr
I have been writing about autonomous & connected driving since 2011 and also report on other sites, such as the Smart Mobility Hub. I studied social sciences at HU Berlin and have been an independent journalist since 2012. Contact: mail@autonomes-fahren.de