Hyundai and Kia have unveiled a technology that effectively removes contaminants from camera sensors.
Hyundai and Kia have developed the ‘Rotator Cam’ technology, which combines the rotation of a cover glass protecting the camera with a small wiper to remove external contaminants.
In the field of autonomous driving, which has seen fierce competition recently, the technological sophistication has reached unprecedented levels. However, even a tiny speck of dirt on the sensor can result in catastrophic errors.
This emphasizes the importance of securing advanced sensor cleaning technologies for the precise operation of autonomous driving features.
Currently, the most widely adopted method for cleaning camera sensors involves spraying washer fluid through a pop-up nozzle to remove impurities. However, this method has the drawback of leaving residual washer fluid or accumulated raindrops on the lens surface during rainy conditions.
While using electric wiper blades to physically wipe off contaminants excels at removing raindrops, it also has the limitation of potentially obstructing the view of the camera sensors.
The ‘Rotator Cam’ technology introduced today is one of the various sensor cleaning technologies being developed by Hyundai and Kia, capable of effectively removing dust, mud, and even raindrops.
In developing the ‘Rotator Cam’, Hyundai and Kia focused on rotating the cover glass lens cap, which enables effective cleaning without obstructing the sensor’s view.
The ‘Rotator Cam’ consists of an electric motor for rotating the cover glass, a washer fluid supply device located at the bottom of the cover glass, and a fixed wiper blade.
When the image analysis AI detects contaminants, the washer fluid supply device automatically activates and rotates the cover glass. The rotation captures the contaminants on the small wiper, allowing clear image transmission to resume.
When rain is detected via a rain sensor, the washer fluid spraying process is omitted, minimizing the occurrence of water droplets scattering.
Moreover, the ‘Rotator Cam’ has wiper blades and washer nozzles designed as an integrated unit, enhancing contamination removal performance while preventing washer fluid from being dispersed externally and optimizing its usage.
While common sensor cleaning technologies using cover glass typically have a problem with internal humidity, the ‘Rotator Cam’ technology can eliminate humidity by generating airflow with internal propeller blades while rotating the cover glass.
In fact, in the test drive video shared by Hyundai and Kia on this day, it can be seen that the numerous raindrops accumulating on the camera lens were mostly wiped away with the operation of the ‘Rotator Cam,’ ensuring a clear view even in heavy rain.
If this technology reaches commercialization, it is expected to support the advanced sensing technologies required for fully autonomous driving at Level 4 and above, contributing to the safety of self-driving mobility.
Moreover, it is anticipated to replace the cleaning technology based on nozzles, which is largely dependent on imports.
Currently, Hyundai and Kia are conducting tests considering numerous possible scenarios to thoroughly validate the ‘Rotator Cam.’ Additionally, they have completed patent applications for the technology and plan to review the mass production after durability and performance testing.
A Hyundai and Kia representative stated, “Sensor cleaning technology is a key element in accelerating autonomous driving technology,” emphasizing that they will continue to work across all departments to develop various convenience technologies centered around future mobility with customer safety as a top priority.
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr