Examining the Optimization of Spray Cleaning Performance for LiDAR Sensor

Pollutants degrade the performance of LiDAR sensors used in autonomous vehicles. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop cleaning technology for these sensors. In this study, a solid-state LiDAR sensor was selected as a target and sprayed/dried with 2.5 g of a mixture of Arizona dust and Kaolin. To achieve optimal LiDAR cleaning performance, the washer pressure, spray time, spray angle, and target point were selected as major variables. Additionally, an optimal cleaning solution for each spray was formed via the design of experiments and optimization techniques. Model suitability was observed for the second spray through to the fourth. The cleaning rate increased with the washer pressure and spray time. The influence of these variables decreased as the number of sprays increased. The spray angle and target point exhibited no significant influence, but excellent cleaning was observed in some central areas. Verification test results were within 3% for the second through fourth sprays, indicating reliability. This study used a designed experiment with 30 scenarios to reveal optimized conditions for protecting the sensor performance from external visibility obstructions. Disclosing the optimization method lowers the barrier for sensor cleaning manufacturers to develop their own technology, which ultimately enhances safer and more efficient autonomous driving.