Abstract: A sensor assembly includes one or more sensors configured to collect data from an environment. A sensor window is disposed in a field of view of the sensor, such that the sensor senses the environment through the sensor window to generate sensor data. The sensor window is rotated relative to the sensor to cause obstructions on the sensor window, like water or debris, to disperse.

Abstract: This application relates to techniques for improving sensor cleaning techniques. The techniques described herein utilize heat generated by multiple heat generating components of a vehicle, which is normally wasted. The techniques collect the waste heat to heat fluid stored in a reservoir. The heated fluid is further dispensed to heat and/or clean sensors. In some examples, a vehicle implementing the techniques includes a computing system to control an operation of the vehicle; a sensor to sense an environment of the vehicle; and a sensor cleaning system to clean the sensor with a fluid. In implementations, the sensor cleaning system includes a heat exchanger to apply heat generated by a heat generating component to heat fluid in a reservoir to generate heated fluid, and a dispenser fluidly coupled to the reservoir and configured to dispense the heated fluid toward the sensor to heat or clean the sensor.

Abstract: A system and method to defog and/or defrost a sealed sensor system housing window to improve transmission of an electromagnetic wave through the housing window. The system includes at least a heater provided in a sealed sensor system housing to emit heat into the housing. The heat is then distributed via convection promoted by a moving component of the sensor system, a fan, or a combination of both. Additionally or alternatively, heat may be transferred to the housing window via conduction. A controller can be configured to activate or deactivate the heater based on a determined or predicted state.

Abstract: A sensor pod system includes one or more sensor pods with a plurality of sensors configured to collect data from an environment. A sensor pod may have an effective field of view created by individual sensors with overlapping fields of view. The sensor pod system may include sensors of different types and modalities. Sensor pods of the sensor pod system may be modularly installed on a vehicle, for example, an autonomous vehicle and collect and provide data of the environment during operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: Techniques are described for cleaning sensors of a vehicle. An attribute of the surrounding environment (e.g., type of precipitation, intensity of precipitation, etc.) is determined along with orientations and/or attributes of the sensors (e.g. fields-of-view, focal lengths, spectral ranges, etc). Cleaning frequencies are then be determined based, at least in part, on the attribute of the environment together with the orientations and/or attributes of the sensors. Cleaning elements are then activated at the determined frequencies to clean the sensors. In some examples, the cleaning frequencies may be determined based additionally on an attribute of travel of the vehicle (e.g. direction of travel of the vehicle, speed of the vehicle, etc.).

Abstract: A sensor pod system includes one or more sensor pods with a plurality of sensors configured to collect data from an environment. A sensor pod may have an effective field of view created by individual sensors with overlapping fields of view. The sensor pod system may include sensors of different types and modalities. Sensor pods of the sensor pod system may be modularly installed on a vehicle, for example, an autonomous vehicle and collect and provide data of the environment during operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: A sensor pod system includes one or more sensor pods with a plurality of sensors configured to collect data from an environment. A sensor pod may include a housing and extend from a portion of a body of a vehicle. The sensor pod housing may have energy absorbing structures configured to absorb and dissipate energy during an impact in order to protect a pedestrian.

Abstract: A sensor pod system includes one or more sensor pods with a plurality of sensors configured to collect data from an environment. The sensor pod system may include a cleaning system to clean sensing surfaces of sensor pods during operation. The sensor pod system may include sensors of different types and modalities. Sensor pods of the sensor pod system may be modularly installed on a vehicle, for example, an autonomous vehicle and collect and provide data of the environment during operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle mounted sensor assembly includes a frame and a cover connected to the base. When assembled, the frame and the cover define a volume that is divided between a first cavity and a second cavity. A sensor is disposed in the first cavity and one or more antennas are disposed in the second cavity.

Abstract: A sensor pod system includes one or more sensor pods with a plurality of sensors configured to collect data from an environment. A sensor pod may have an effective field of view created by individual sensors with overlapping fields of view. The sensor pod system may include sensors of different types and modalities. Sensor pods of the sensor pod system may be modularly disposed on a vehicle, for example, an autonomous vehicle to collect and provide data of the environment during operation of the vehicle. The sensor pods may be disposed at elevated locations around the vehicle to reduce obstacles within the sensor pods fields of view.

Abstract: A sensor pod system includes one or more sensor pods with a plurality of sensors configured to collect data from an environment. A sensor pod may have an effective field of view created by individual sensors with overlapping fields of view. The sensor pod system may include sensors of different types and modalities. Sensor pods of the sensor pod system may be modularly installed on a vehicle, for example, an autonomous vehicle and collect and provide data of the environment during operation of the vehicle. A combination of techniques may be used to calibrate a sensor pod prior to installation in the vehicle and may be used to determine if the sensor pod is compatible with other sensor pods and may also be used to calibrate other sensors when integrating the sensor pod into the vehicle.

Abstract: A sensor pod system includes one or more sensor pods with a plurality of sensors configured to collect data from an environment. A sensor pod may include a housing and extend from a portion of a body of a vehicle. The sensor pod housing may have energy absorbing structures configured to absorb and dissipate energy during an impact in order to protect a pedestrian. The sensor pod may have deformable portions of the housing configured to absorb and dissipate energy during the impact. The sensor pod may have deformable fasteners coupling a sensor to the sensor pod configured to deform to absorb and dissipate energy during the impact.

Abstract: A sensor pod system includes one or more sensor pods with a plurality of sensors configured to collect data from an environment. A sensor pod may have an effective field of view created by individual sensors with overlapping fields of view. The sensor pod system may include sensors of different types and modalities. Sensor pods of the sensor pod system may be modularly installed on a vehicle, for example, an autonomous vehicle and collect and provide data of the environment during operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: A sensor pod system includes one or more sensor pods with a plurality of sensors configured to collect data from an environment. A sensor pod may have an effective field of view created by individual sensors with overlapping fields of view. The sensor pod system may include sensors of different types and modalities. Sensor pods of the sensor pod system may be modularly disposed on a vehicle, for example, an autonomous vehicle to collect and provide data of the environment during operation of the vehicle. The sensor pods may be disposed at elevated locations around the vehicle to reduce obstacles within the sensor pods fields of view.

Abstract: A sensor pod system includes one or more sensor pods with a plurality of sensors configured to collect data from an environment. A sensor pod may include a housing and extend from a portion of a body of a vehicle. The sensor pod housing may have energy absorbing structures configured to absorb and dissipate energy during an impact in order to protect a pedestrian. The sensor pod may have deformable portions of the housing configured to absorb and dissipate energy during the impact. The sensor pod may have deformable fasteners coupling a sensor to the sensor pod configured to deform to absorb and dissipate energy during the impact.

Abstract: A sensor pod system includes one or more sensor pods with a plurality of sensors configured to collect data from an environment. A sensor pod may have an effective field of view created by individual sensors with overlapping fields of view. The sensor pod system may include sensors of different types and modalities. Sensor pods of the sensor pod system may be modularly installed on a vehicle, for example, an autonomous vehicle and collect and provide data of the environment during operation of the vehicle. A combination of techniques may be used to calibrate a sensor pod prior to installation in the vehicle and may be used to determine if the sensor pod is compatible with other sensor pods and may also be used to calibrate other sensors when integrating the sensor pod into the vehicle.

Abstract: A sensor pod system includes one or more sensor pods with a plurality of sensors configured to collect data from an environment. The sensor pod system may include a cleaning system to clean sensing surfaces of sensor pods during operation. The sensor pod system may include sensors of different types and modalities. Sensor pods of the sensor pod system may be modularly installed on a vehicle, for example, an autonomous vehicle and collect and provide data of the environment during operation of the vehicle.