Abstract: Example embodiments relate to pulse energy plans for light detection and ranging (lidar) devices based on areas of interest and thermal budgets. An example lidar device includes a plurality of light emitters configured to emit light pulses into an environment in a plurality of different emission directions. The lidar device also includes circuitry configured to power the plurality of light emitters. Further, the lidar device includes a plurality of detectors configured to detect reflections of light pulses emitted by the plurality of light emitters. In addition, the lidar device includes a controller configured to (i) determine a pulse energy plan based on one or more regions of interest in the environment and a thermal budget and (ii) control the circuitry based on the pulse energy plan. The pulse energy plan specifies a pulse energy level for each light pulse emitted by each light emitter in the plurality of light emitters.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to an air cooling system for an electronic spinning assembly. An example embodiment includes a plurality of vanes coupled to a static base. A vane cover is rotatably coupled to the static base. The vane cover at least partially encloses the plurality of vanes. Additionally, the vane cover is coupled to an electronic spinning assembly and configured to rotate with the spinning assembly. The vane cover further includes at least one air inlet configured to act as an air intake for an airflow, at least one air duct extending from the vane cover and configured to direct the airflow, and at least one choke point disposed in the cover. The at least one choke point is configured to increase a pressure of the airflow.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to pulse energy plans for light detection and ranging (lidar) devices based on areas of interest and thermal budgets. An example lidar device includes a plurality of light emitters configured to emit light pulses into an environment in a plurality of different emission directions. The lidar device also includes circuitry configured to power the plurality of light emitters. Further, the lidar device includes a plurality of detectors configured to detect reflections of light pulses emitted by the plurality of light emitters. In addition, the lidar device includes a controller configured to (i) determine a pulse energy plan based on one or more regions of interest in the environment and a thermal budget and (ii) control the circuitry based on the pulse energy plan. The pulse energy plan specifies a pulse energy level for each light pulse emitted by each light emitter in the plurality of light emitters.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to a sensor unit with rotating housing and spoiler for enhanced airflow. An example device includes one or more sensors configured to sense one or more aspects of an environment surrounding the device. The device also includes a housing that at least partially surrounds the one or more sensors. The housing and the one or more sensors are configured to rotate about a shared axis. The housing includes an inlet configured to act as an air intake for an airflow through the housing. The airflow is configured to cool the one or more sensors while the one or more sensors are operating. Further, the device includes a spoiler positioned on or near the inlet. The spoiler is configured to increase an air pressure near the inlet or promote laminar flow near the inlet in order to promote the airflow through the housing.

Abstract: This technology relates to a system for cooling sensor components. The cooling system may include a sensor which has a sensor housing, a motor, a main vent, and a side vent. Internal sensor components may be positioned within the sensor housing. The motor may be configured to rotate the sensor housing around an axis. The rotation of the sensor housing may pull air into an interior portion of the sensor housing through the main vent, and the air pulled into the interior portion of the sensor housing may be exhausted out of the interior portion of the sensor housing through the side vent.

Abstract: This technology relates to a system for cooling sensor components. The cooling system may include a sensor which has a sensor housing, a motor, a main vent, and a side vent. Internal sensor components may be positioned within the sensor housing. The motor may be configured to rotate the sensor housing around an axis. The rotation of the sensor housing may pull air into an interior portion of the sensor housing through the main vent, and the air pulled into the interior portion of the sensor housing may be exhausted out of the interior portion of the sensor housing through the side vent.

Abstract: An example method includes making a first determination that a load of a cooling system of a vehicle is expected to increase and become greater than a capacity of the cooling system; operating, in response to making the first determination, the vehicle in a first mode where a combustion engine and an electric motor operate such that a charge level of a power supply of the vehicle increases or is maintained above a threshold charge level; making, after operating the vehicle in the first mode, a second determination that the load of the cooling system has become greater than the capacity of the cooling system; and operating, in response to making the second determination, the vehicle in a second mode where the combustion engine and the electric motor operate such that the charge level of the power supply decreases or is maintained below the threshold charge level.

Abstract: This technology relates to a system for preventing particle buildup on a sensor housing. The system may include a sensor housing including a first surface, a motor, and a spoiler edge. The motor may be configured to rotate the sensor housing around an axis. The spoiler edge may be positioned adjacent to the first surface and extended away from the first surface perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the sensor housing.

Abstract: This technology relates to a system for preventing particle buildup on a sensor housing. The system may include a sensor housing including a first surface, a motor, and a spoiler edge. The motor may be configured to rotate the sensor housing around an axis. The spoiler edge may be positioned adjacent to the first surface and extended away from the first surface perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the sensor housing.

Abstract: A control system for an autonomous vehicle is configured to perform a cabin air flush. The autonomous vehicle includes one or more computing devices in communication with a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The one or more computing devices are configured to determine a first ride performed by the autonomous vehicle has ended; determine that conditions are appropriate for a cabin air flush of a cabin of the vehicle; turn off air recirculation in the cabin to open one or more vents of an HVAC system of the vehicle; turn one or more fans of the HVAC system to a maximum level for a set amount of time; and after the set amount of time has elapsed, cause the one or more vents and the one or more fans to switch to a default state.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to light detection and ranging (lidar) devices having a light-guide manifold. An example lidar device includes a transmit subsystem. The transmit subsystem includes a light emitter. The transmit subsystem also includes a light-guide manifold optically coupled to the light emitter. Further, the transmit subsystem includes a telecentric lens assembly optically coupled to the light-guide manifold. The lidar device also includes a receive subsystem. The receive subsystem includes the telecentric lens assembly. The receive subsystem also includes an aperture plate having an aperture defined therein. The aperture plate is positioned at a focal plane of the telecentric lens assembly. Further, the receive subsystem includes a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) positioned to receive light traveling through the aperture.

Abstract: A method controls the electrical charging of a group of vehicles which are electrically connected to a power supply system of a power supply system operator, wherein the respective vehicles obtain power for charging a vehicle energy store from the power supply system. A central control system can communicate with the respective vehicles and with a server of the power supply system operator and a number of electrical units via communication signals, wherein the number of electrical units each have a higher response time for an electrical power adjustment in response to communication signals from the central control system and/or a higher time synchronicity with respect to a clock of the central control system in comparison with the vehicles.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to pulse energy plans for light detection and ranging (lidar) devices based on areas of interest and thermal budgets. An example lidar device includes a plurality of light emitters configured to emit light pulses into an environment in a plurality of different emission directions. The lidar device also includes circuitry configured to power the plurality of light emitters. Further, the lidar device includes a plurality of detectors configured to detect reflections of light pulses emitted by the plurality of light emitters. In addition, the lidar device includes a controller configured to (i) determine a pulse energy plan based on one or more regions of interest in the environment and a thermal budget and (ii) control the circuitry based on the pulse energy plan. The pulse energy plan specifies a pulse energy level for each light pulse emitted by each light emitter in the plurality of light emitters.

Abstract: A method controls the electric charging of a group of vehicles. A central control system can communicate with the respective vehicles of the group and with a server of the network operator. In each case a charging time window, a departure time and a setpoint state of charge of the vehicle-side energy store at the departure time are defined in advance for one or more specific vehicles. In addition, a cost value for the charging time window is predefined in accordance with a cost function which specifies a cost level as a function of the charging process according to the charging time window. The central control system transmits a modified charging time window to a respective specific vehicle of at least some of the specific vehicles, after which the charging process is carried out according to the modified charging time window by fulfilling the charging time criterion with an unchanged departure time and setpoint state of charge.

Abstract: This technology relates to a system for cooling sensor components. The cooling system may include a sensor which has a sensor housing, a motor, a main vent, and a side vent. Internal sensor components may be positioned within the sensor housing. The motor may be configured to rotate the sensor housing around an axis. The rotation of the sensor housing may pull air into an interior portion of the sensor housing through the main vent, and the air pulled into the interior portion of the sensor housing may be exhausted out of the interior portion of the sensor housing through the side vent.

Abstract: This technology relates to a system for preventing particle buildup on a sensor housing. The system may include a sensor housing including a first surface, a motor, and a spoiler edge. The motor may be configured to rotate the sensor housing around an axis. The spoiler edge may be positioned adjacent to the first surface and extended away from the first surface perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the sensor housing.

Abstract: A method controls electrical charging of a group of vehicles which are electrically connected to a power supply system of a power supply system operator, wherein the respective vehicles draw power from the power supply system for charging a vehicle-side energy store for driving the respective vehicle. A central control system can communicate with the respective vehicles of the group and also with a server of the power supply system operator, wherein the central control system, in response to a received reduction command which originates from the server of the power supply system operator, carries out a charging power reduction control operation for the group of vehicles using charging power measurement values of the respective vehicles and in the process reduces the charging power of at least some of the vehicle-side energy stores in order to reduce the total charging power of the groups of vehicles at least by a power value which is specified by the reduction command.

Abstract: An example method includes making a first determination that a load of a cooling system of a vehicle is expected to increase and become greater than a capacity of the cooling system; operating, in response to making the first determination, the vehicle in a first mode where a combustion engine and an electric motor operate such that a charge level of a power supply of the vehicle increases or is maintained above a threshold charge level; making, after operating the vehicle in the first mode, a second determination that the load of the cooling system has become greater than the capacity of the cooling system; and operating, in response to making the second determination, the vehicle in a second mode where the combustion engine and the electric motor operate such that the charge level of the power supply decreases or is maintained below the threshold charge level.

Abstract: A method controls the electric charging of a group of vehicles. A central control system can communicate with the respective vehicles of the group and with a server of the network operator. In each case a charging time window, a departure time and a setpoint state of charge of the vehicle-side energy store at the departure time are defined in advance for one or more specific vehicles. In addition, a cost value for the charging time window is predefined in accordance with a cost function which specifies a cost level as a function of the charging process according to the charging time window. The central control system transmits a modified charging time window to a respective specific vehicle of at least some of the specific vehicles, after which the charging process is carried out according to the modified charging time window by fulfilling the charging time criterion with an unchanged departure time and setpoint state of charge.

Abstract: A method controls the electrical charging of a group of vehicles which are electrically connected to a power supply system of a power supply system operator, wherein the respective vehicles obtain power for charging a vehicle energy store from the power supply system. A central control system can communicate with the respective vehicles and with a server of the power supply system operator and a number of electrical units via communication signals, wherein the number of electrical units each have a higher response time for an electrical power adjustment in response to communication signals from the central control system and/or a higher time synchronicity with respect to a clock of the central control system in comparison with the vehicles.