Pod connection for Autonomous Vehicle Sensors
Examples relating to vehicle radar systems are described. An example radar system may include a sensor unit. The sensor unit includes a plurality of sensors configured to sense the environment of a vehicle. The sensor unit also includes a coupling portion configured to couple the sensor unit to a vehicle. The coupling portion includes a power supply connection and a data bus. The data bus may be configured to provide information to a control system of the vehicle.
1 . A vehicular system comprising:
a control system configured to provide autonomous control to a vehicle; and
a connector coupled to a roof of the vehicle configured to enable a sensor unit to couple to the vehicle, wherein the connector comprises:
a power supply connection; and
a data bus, wherein the data bus is coupled to the control system.
2 . The vehicular system of claim 1 , wherein the connector further comprises a thermal connection configured to remove heat from the sensor unit.
3 . The vehicular system of claim 1 , wherein the data bus is configured to provide vehicular control instructions from the sensor unit to the control system.
4 . The vehicular system of claim 1 , wherein the data bus is configured to provide sensor data from the sensor unit to the control system.
5 . The vehicular system of claim 1 , further comprising a conversion unit configured to:
determine an object in an environment of the vehicle; and
communicate control signals to the vehicle by way of the data bus, wherein the control signals are based on the determined object
6 . The vehicular system of claim 5 , wherein the conversion unit is further configured to convert a voltage provided by the power supply connection to at least one voltage of the sensor unit.
7 . The vehicular system of claim 1 , wherein the connector is configured to removably couple the sensor unit to the vehicle.
8 . A sensor unit comprising:
a plurality of sensors configured to sense an environment of a vehicle; and
a coupling portion of the sensor unit configured to couple the sensor unit to the vehicle, the coupling portion comprising:
a power supply connection; and
a data bus, wherein the data bus is configured to provide information to a control system of the vehicle.
9 . The sensor unit of claim 8 , further comprising a conversion unit configured to:
determine an object in the environment of the vehicle; and
communicate control signals to the vehicle by way of the data bus, wherein the control signals are based on the determined object.
10 . The sensor unit of claim 9 , wherein the conversion unit is further configured to convert a voltage provided by the power supply connection to at least one voltage of the sensor unit.
11 . The sensor unit of claim 8 , wherein the coupling portion is configured to removably couple the sensor unit to the vehicle.
12 . The sensor unit of claim 8 , wherein the coupling portion further comprises a thermal connection configured to remove heat from the sensor unit.
13 . The sensor unit of claim 8 , wherein the data bus is configured to provide vehicular control instructions from the sensor unit to the control system of the vehicle.
14 . The sensor unit of claim 8 , wherein the data bus is configured to provide sensor data from the sensor unit to the control system of the vehicle.
15 . A method comprising:
providing a control system configured to provide autonomous control to a vehicle; and
providing a connector coupled to a roof of the vehicle configured to enable a sensor unit to couple to the vehicle, wherein the connector comprises:
a power supply connection; and
a data bus, wherein the data bus is coupled to the control system.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising providing a conversion unit configured to:
determine an object in an environment of the vehicle; and
communicate control signals to the vehicle by way of the data bus, wherein the control signals are based on the determined object.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the conversion unit is further configured to convert a voltage provided by the power supply connection to at least one voltage of the sensor unit.
18 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising providing a thermal connection configured to remove heat from the sensor unit.
19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the data bus is configured to provide vehicular control instructions from the sensor unit to the control system of the vehicle.
20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the data bus is configured to provide sensor data from the sensor unit to the control system of the vehicle.