Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a housing, a sensor unit attached to the housing, and an elastomeric flap. The sensor unit includes a shell defining a vertical axis. The shell is rotatable around the axis relative to the housing. The shell includes a lower edge and extends upward along the axis from the lower edge. The housing includes an aperture centered on the axis. The aperture defines an airflow outlet from the housing radially inside the aperture relative to the axis. The sensor unit defines an airflow inlet radially inside the lower edge relative to the axis and positioned to receive airflow from the aperture. The aperture and the lower edge define a fixed gap extending around the axis. The flap is fixed to one of the housing or the sensor unit, and the flap extends across the fixed gap toward the other one of the housing or the sensor unit.

Abstract: An assembly for mounting a sensor to a vehicle includes a base, a sensor bracket, and a tolerance compensator between the base and the sensor bracket. The tolerance compensator is threadedly coupled to the base and releasably engaged with the sensor bracket in an assembled position. The assembly includes a washer including a hub fixed relative to the base and a plurality of tabs arranged circumferentially around the hub and extending radially relative to the hub. One of the tabs is moveable into engagement with the tolerance compensator in the assembled position.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body and an optical sensor supported by the vehicle body and defining a field-of-view. The vehicle includes a transparent shield in the field-of-view, the transparent shield having an outer surface. The vehicle includes a camera facing the outer surface of the transparent shield.

Abstract: Upon determining an autonomous mode for a vehicle is activated, a motor is actuated to move a wiper across a windshield in a low mode based on determining to clean the windshield. A blower is actuated to direct air across a sensor. Then, after expiration of a first timer, a pump is actuated according to a pressure threshold to direct fluid through a fluid nozzle and across the windshield towards the sensor. The pressure threshold specifies a fluid pressure less than a maximum fluid pressure for the pump. The pump is stopped after expiration of a second timer.

Abstract: An assembly includes a liftgate having a frame and a body panel supported by the frame, the body panel defining a plurality of openings, the openings providing access to the frame. The assembly includes a first cover covering the plurality of openings of the body panel. The assembly includes a second cover supported by the first cover and defining a chamber therebetween. The assembly includes a sensor assembly supported within the chamber between the first cover and the second cover.

Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a housing, a sensor unit attached to the housing, and a gutter fixed relative to the housing. The sensor unit includes a cylindrical shell defining a vertical axis. The cylindrical shell extends above a highest point of the housing. The cylindrical shell is rotatable around the axis relative to the housing. The cylindrical shell includes a lower edge and extending upward along the axis from the lower edge. The gutter is elongated along the lower edge and positioned directly below the lower edge relative to the axis. The gutter defines an airflow outlet from the housing radially inside the gutter relative to the axis. The sensor unit defines an airflow inlet radially inside the lower edge relative to the axis and positioned to receive airflow from the airflow outlet.

Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a base, a sensor mounted to the base, a housing mounted to the base, and a seal extending around the base. The seal is compressed between the base and the housing. The seal includes a notch sized to permit fluid to exit from a space enclosed by the base and the housing.

Abstract: A vehicle assembly includes a vehicle window, a sprayer positioned above the vehicle window and aimed at the vehicle window, a sensor positioned below the vehicle window, and a deflector positioned to receive fluid from the sprayer and shaped to direct the fluid to the sensor. A single sprayer therefore provides cleaning for both the vehicle window and the sensor.

Abstract: A sensor-cleaning system includes a sensor of a vehicle, an electrode, and a computer communicatively coupled to the electrode. The sensor includes a lens. The electrode is positioned to draw dust from the lens when the electrode is energized. The computer is programmed to energize the electrode in response to the vehicle moving and deenergize the electrode in response to the vehicle being stationary.

Abstract: A vehicle lamp assembly includes a first light; a second light; and a belt that couples the second light to the first light such that adjustments to a position of the first light adjust a position of the second light. A vehicle lamp adjustment method includes pivotably coupling a first light of a lamp together with a second light of the lamp using a belt; and pivoting the first light to pivot the second light.

Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a carrier plate, a mounting plate, and a sensor on or over the mounting plate. The assembly can additionally include two ball studs attaching the mounting plate to the carrier plate, the ball studs defining a first axis passing through center points of the ball studs. A first adjustable screw can be positioned to tilt the mounting plate about the first axis, and a second adjustable screw can be positioned to rotate the mounting plate about a vertically oriented second axis, in which the second axis is spaced from the ball studs.

Abstract: A sensor-cleaning assembly includes a stationary faceplate having multiple openings. The assembly additionally includes a cylinder defining an axis and abutting the faceplate at a first end of the cylinder. The cylinder can be rotatable about the axis relative to the faceplate in which the cylinder includes a passage from an inlet centered on the axis to an outlet that is alignable with a first opening of the multiple openings of the faceplate responsive to rotation of the cylinder.

Abstract: A sensor assembly can include a bracket mounted to a vehicle roof in an attachment area of the vehicle roof. The bracket may cover the attachment area and the bracket may include a cantilevered portion extending in a vehicle-forward direction from a forwardmost point of the attachment area. A sensor can be mounted to, or within, the cantilevered portion forward of the forwardmost point.

Abstract: An assembly can include a windshield a transparent roof, a transparent reinforcing beam disposed between the windshield and the transparent roof, and a sensor mounted over the transparent reinforcing beam.

Abstract: A vehicle assembly includes a vehicle exterior panel, a nozzle, and a wind panel fixed to the nozzle. The nozzle and the wind panel are movable together along an axis between a retracted axial position concealed behind the vehicle exterior panel and an extended axial position extending outward from the vehicle exterior panel. The nozzle and the wind panel are rotatable together about the axis when in the extended axial position. The wind panel is arranged to rotate the nozzle about the axis responsive to airflow directed at the wind panel.

Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a base, a housing mounted to the base and rotatable relative to the base around an axis in a direction of rotation, a sensing apparatus inside the housing and rotatable with the housing, and a sensor window extending from a point on the housing in a direction that is radially outward and circumferential relative to the axis. The sensor window is flat. The sensing apparatus has a field of view through the sensor window. An exterior surface of the sensor window faces in a direction that is radially outward and circumferentially in the direction of rotation relative to the axis.

Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a sensor having a lens defining an axis. An air nozzle is aimed to direct air across the lens and defines a direction of airflow along a longitudinal axis of the air nozzle. The longitudinal axis is transverse to the axis. A plurality of baffles are disposed in the air nozzle and spaced from each other. The baffles extend partially across the air nozzle relative to the axis.

Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a sensor mounted to a movable panel of a vehicle and a telescoping nozzle mounted to a fixed panel of the vehicle. The movable panel can be movable relative to the fixed panel between an open position and a closed position. The telescoping nozzle can be extendable between a retracted position behind the fixed panel and an extended position extending from the fixed panel. The telescoping nozzle can be aimed at a surface of the sensor responsive to the movable panel being in the closed position and the telescoping nozzle being in the extended position.

Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a housing shaped to be mounted to a vehicle. The sensor assembly includes a first nozzle positioned on the housing and below the sensor and is positioned to dispense a fluid in an upward direction to a surface of the sensor. The sensor assembly includes a second nozzle positioned below the sensor, in which the second nozzle is positioned to dispense airflow to the surface of the sensor. The sensor assembly further includes a ram air structure positioned to receive airflow during forward travel of the vehicle and to dispense airflow to the surface of the sensor.

Abstract: A system for maintaining heated fluid for sensor cleaning includes a reservoir, a heat exchanger, and a manifold fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger and to the reservoir. The manifold additionally includes a set of pumps positioned to distribute fluid to a set of sensors. A controller is programmed to actuate flow of cleaning fluid from the manifold to the heat exchanger responsive to an output signal from the temperature sensor.