US 11,835,660 B2
Sensor assembly and methods of operation
Anatolii Vitanov, Fremont, CA (US); and Cyrus F. Abari, San Bruno, CA (US)
Assigned to Pony AI Inc., Grand Cayman (KY)
Filed by Pony Al Inc., Grand Cayman (KY)
Filed on Sep. 30, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/039,143.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/070,109, filed on Aug. 25, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0066003 A1, Mar. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. G01S 7/48 (2006.01); G01S 7/497 (2006.01); G01S 17/931 (2020.01)
CPC G01S 7/497 (2013.01) [G01S 17/931 (2020.01); G01S 2007/4977 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sensor assembly associated with a vehicle, the sensor assembly comprising:
a base component;
a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensor mounted on a support platform disposed centrally on the base component;
a transparent cylinder disposed peripherally to the LiDAR sensor, wherein the transparent cylinder provides a field of view (FOV) for the LiDAR sensor and is rotatable independently of the base component;
a motor component disposed on the base component, adjacent to the support platform, wherein the motor component is coupled to the transparent cylinder through a gearset and configured to rotate the transparent cylinder; and
a controller configured to:
obtain sensor data from on-board vehicle sensors, wherein the sensor data further comprises vehicle velocity data, the vehicle velocity data indicating a velocity of the vehicle;
determine a level of obscurement on the transparent cylinder based on the sensor data;
determine that the level of obscurement exceeds a threshold level of obscurement;
transmit an actuation signal to the motor component to cause a rotation of the transparent cylinder at a rotational speed, wherein the rotation of the transparent cylinder disperses obscurements on the transparent cylinder; and
adjust the rotational speed based on the sensor data.