System and method for automated cleaning

1. An automatic cleaning system, comprising a control unit, a Micro Control Unit (MCU), a cleaning device and a sensor device, wherein

the control unit is configured to determine a cleaning type for cleaning a protective cover of a camera based on an image captured by the camera and a temperature and a humidity on an outer surface of the protective cover of the camera as measured by the sensor device, generate a cleaning instruction based on the cleaning type and send the cleaning instruction to the MCU, and

the MCU is configured to control the cleaning device to clean the protective cover of the camera in accordance with the cleaning instruction in response to receiving the cleaning instruction sent from the control unit,

wherein the control unit, configured to determine the cleaning type for cleaning the protective cover of the camera based on the image captured by the camera and the temperature and the humidity on the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera as measured by the sensor device, is configured to:

in response to determining an obstruction being located outside the protective cover of the camera based on the image captured by the camera, determine a type of the obstruction;

determine the cleaning type for cleaning the protective cover of the camera based on the type of the obstruction and the temperature and the humidity on the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera;

in response to the type of the obstruction being solid substance, determine whether the temperature on the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera is lower than a predetermined temperature threshold; and

in response to the temperature on the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera being lower than the predetermined temperature threshold, determine that the cleaning type is frozen solid.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the MCU is communicatively connected to the sensor device and is further configured to: receive from the sensor device the temperature and the humidity on the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera as measured by the sensor device, and send the temperature and the humidity on the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera to the control unit.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit, configured to determine the cleaning type for cleaning the protective cover of the camera based on the type of the obstruction and the temperature and the humidity on the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera, is further configured to:

determine, when the type of the obstruction is solid substance, whether the temperature on the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera is lower than a predetermined temperature threshold, and if so, determine that the cleaning type is frozen solid, or otherwise determine that the cleaning type is non-frozen solid, or

determine, when the type of the obstruction is liquid substance, whether the humidity on the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera is higher than a humidity threshold, and if so, determine that the cleaning type is non-viscous liquid, or otherwise determine that the cleaning type is viscous liquid.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit, configured to generate the cleaning instruction based on the cleaning type, is configured to:

generate a first instruction comprising heating information and air blowing information when the cleaning type is frozen solid;

generate a second instruction comprising air blowing information when the cleaning type is non-frozen solid;

generate a third instruction comprising wiper activating information when the cleaning type is non-viscous liquid; and

generate a fourth instruction comprising water spraying information and wiper activating information when the cleaning type is viscous liquid.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the MCU, configured to control the cleaning device to clean the protective cover of the camera in accordance with the cleaning instruction, is configured to:

control, in response to receiving the first instruction, a heating plate installed inside the protective cover of the camera to generate heat for a predetermined time length based on the heating information, and then control an air blowing unit in the cleaning device to blow air towards the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera based on the air blowing information;

control, in response to receiving the second instruction, the air blowing unit in the cleaning device to blow air towards the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera based on the air blowing information;

activate, in response to receiving the third instruction, a wiper in the cleaning device to wash the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera based on the wiper activating information; and

control, in response to receiving the fourth instruction, a water spraying unit in the cleaning device to spray water towards the surface of the protective cover of the camera based on the water spraying information, and activate the wiper in the cleaning device to wash the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera based on the wiper activating information.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the air blowing unit comprises an air pump and the water spraying unit comprises a water pump and a water tank, an air outlet of the air pump and a water outlet of the water pump being connected to a water-air pipe through a two-position three-way solenoid valve,

the MCU, configured to control the air blowing unit in the cleaning device to blow air towards the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera based on the air blowing information, is configured to: control the two-position three-way solenoid valve to be turned on or off, so as to connect the air outlet of the air pump and the water-air pipe, and control the air pump to blow air towards the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera via the water-air pipe, and

the MCU, configured to control the water spraying unit in the cleaning device to spray water towards the surface of the protective cover of the camera based on the water spraying information, is configured to: control the two-position three-way solenoid valve to be turned off or on, so as to connect the water outlet of the water pump and the water-air pipe, and control the water pump to pump water from the water tank and spray water towards the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera via the water-air pipe.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the air blowing unit comprises an air pump and an air pipe connected to an air outlet of the air pump, and the water spraying unit comprises a water pump, a water tank and a water pipe connected to a water outlet of the water pump,

the MCU, configured to control the air blowing unit in the cleaning device to blow air towards the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera based on the air blowing information, is configured to: activate the air pump to blow air towards the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera via the air pipe, and

the MCU, configured to control the water spraying unit in the cleaning device to spray water towards the surface of the protective cover of the camera based on the water spraying information, is configured to: activate the water pump to pump water from the water tank and spray water towards the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera via the water pipe.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the heating plate is a silicone electrical heating film.

9. An automatic cleaning system, comprising a control unit, a Micro Control Unit (MCU), a cleaning device and a sensor device, wherein:

the control unit is configured to:

determine a cleaning type for cleaning a protective cover of a camera based on an image captured by the camera and a temperature and a humidity on an outer surface of the protective cover of the camera as measured by the sensor device;

determine whether there is an obstruction outside the protective cover of the camera based on the image captured by the camera;

determine, in response to there being an obstruction, a type of the obstruction;

determine the cleaning type for cleaning the protective cover of the camera based on the type of the obstruction and the temperature and the humidity on the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera;

determine, in response to the type of the obstruction being solid substance, whether the temperature on the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera is lower than a predetermined temperature threshold; and

generate a cleaning instruction based on the cleaning type and send the cleaning instruction to the MCU,

and

the MCU is configured to control the cleaning device to clean the protective cover of the camera in accordance with the cleaning instruction in response to receiving the cleaning instruction sent from the control unit,

the MCU, configured to control the cleaning device to clean the protective cover of the camera in accordance with the cleaning instruction, is configured to:

control, in response to receiving a first instruction, a heating plate installed inside the protective cover of the camera to generate heat for a predetermined time length, and then control an air blowing unit in the cleaning device to blow air towards the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera;

control, in response to receiving a second instruction, the air blowing unit in the cleaning device to blow air towards the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera;

activate, in response to receiving a third instruction, a wiper in the cleaning device to wash the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera; and

control, in response to receiving a fourth instruction, a water spraying unit in the cleaning device to spray water towards the surface of the protective cover of the camera, and activate the wiper in the cleaning device to wash the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera,

the air blowing unit comprises an air pump and the water spraying unit comprises a water pump and a water tank, an air outlet of the air pump and a water outlet of the water pump being connected to a water-air pipe through a two-position three-way solenoid valve,

the MCU, configured to control the air blowing unit in the cleaning device to blow air towards the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera, is configured to:

control the two-position three-way solenoid valve to be turned on or off, so as to connect the air outlet of the air pump and the water-air pipe, and control the air pump to blow air towards the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera via the water-air pipe, and

the MCU, configured to control the water spraying unit in the cleaning device to spray water towards the surface of the protective cover of the camera, is configured to:

control the two-position three-way solenoid valve to be turned off or on, so as to connect the water outlet of the water pump and the water-air pipe, and control the water pump to pump water from the water tank and spray water towards the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera via the water-air pipe.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the control unit, configured to generate the cleaning instruction based on the cleaning type, is configured to:

generate the first instruction comprising heating information and air blowing information in response to the cleaning type being frozen solid;

generate the second instruction comprising air blowing information in response to the cleaning type being non-frozen solid;

generate the third instruction comprising wiper activating information in response to the cleaning type being non-viscous liquid; and

generate the fourth instruction comprising water spraying information and wiper activating information in response to the cleaning type being viscous liquid.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the control unit, configured to determine the cleaning type for cleaning the protective cover of the camera based on the type of the obstruction and the temperature and the humidity on the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera, is further configured to:

determine, in response to the type of the obstruction being liquid substance, whether the humidity on the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera is higher than a humidity threshold.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit, configured to determine the cleaning type for cleaning the protective cover of the camera based on the type of the obstruction and the temperature and the humidity on the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera, is further configured to:

in response to the type of the obstruction being liquid substance, determine whether the humidity on the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera is higher than a humidity threshold; and

in response to the humidity on the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera being higher than the humidity threshold, determine that the cleaning type is non-viscous liquid.

13. An automatic cleaning system, comprising a control unit, a Micro Control Unit (MCU), a cleaning device and a sensor device, wherein

the control unit is configured to determine a cleaning type for cleaning a protective cover of a camera based on an image captured by the camera and a temperature and a humidity on an outer surface of the protective cover of the camera as measured by the sensor device, generate a cleaning instruction based on the cleaning type and send the cleaning instruction to the MCU, and

the MCU is configured to control the cleaning device to clean the protective cover of the camera in accordance with the cleaning instruction in response to receiving the cleaning instruction sent from the control unit,

wherein the control unit, configured to determine the cleaning type for cleaning the protective cover of the camera based on the image captured by the camera and the temperature and the humidity on the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera as measured by the sensor device, is configured to:

in response to determining an obstruction being located outside the protective cover of the camera based on the image captured by the camera, determine a type of the obstruction;

determine the cleaning type for cleaning the protective cover of the camera based on the type of the obstruction and the temperature and the humidity on the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera;

in response to the type of the obstruction being liquid substance, determine whether the humidity on the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera is higher than a humidity threshold; and

in response to the humidity on the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera being higher than the humidity threshold, determine that the cleaning type is non-viscous liquid.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the MCU is communicatively connected to the sensor device and is further configured to: receive from the sensor device the temperature and the humidity on the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera as measured by the sensor device, and send the temperature and the humidity on the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera to the control unit.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the control unit, configured to determine the cleaning type for cleaning the protective cover of the camera based on the type of the obstruction and the temperature and the humidity on the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera, is further configured to:

determine, when the type of the obstruction is solid substance, whether the temperature on the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera is lower than a predetermined temperature threshold, and if so, determine that the cleaning type is frozen solid, or otherwise determine that the cleaning type is non-frozen solid, or

determine, when the type of the obstruction is liquid substance, whether the humidity on the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera is higher than a humidity threshold, and if so, determine that the cleaning type is non-viscous liquid, or otherwise determine that the cleaning type is viscous liquid.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the control unit, configured to generate the cleaning instruction based on the cleaning type, is configured to:

generate a first instruction comprising heating information and air blowing information when the cleaning type is frozen solid;

generate a second instruction comprising air blowing information when the cleaning type is non-frozen solid;

generate a third instruction comprising wiper activating information when the cleaning type is non-viscous liquid; and

generate a fourth instruction comprising water spraying information and wiper activating information when the cleaning type is viscous liquid.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the MCU, configured to control the cleaning device to clean the protective cover of the camera in accordance with the cleaning instruction, is configured to:

control, in response to receiving the first instruction, a heating plate installed inside the protective cover of the camera to generate heat for a predetermined time length based on the heating information, and then control an air blowing unit in the cleaning device to blow air towards the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera based on the air blowing information;

control, in response to receiving the second instruction, the air blowing unit in the cleaning device to blow air towards the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera based on the air blowing information;

activate, in response to receiving the third instruction, a wiper in the cleaning device to wash the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera based on the wiper activating information; and

control, in response to receiving the fourth instruction, a water spraying unit in the cleaning device to spray water towards the surface of the protective cover of the camera based on the water spraying information, and activate the wiper in the cleaning device to wash the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera based on the wiper activating information.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the air blowing unit comprises an air pump and the water spraying unit comprises a water pump and a water tank, an air outlet of the air pump and a water outlet of the water pump being connected to a water-air pipe through a two-position three-way solenoid valve,

the MCU, configured to control the air blowing unit in the cleaning device to blow air towards the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera based on the air blowing information, is configured to: control the two-position three-way solenoid valve to be turned on or off, so as to connect the air outlet of the air pump and the water-air pipe, and control the air pump to blow air towards the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera via the water-air pipe, and

the MCU, configured to control the water spraying unit in the cleaning device to spray water towards the surface of the protective cover of the camera based on the water spraying information, is configured to: control the two-position three-way solenoid valve to be turned off or on, so as to connect the water outlet of the water pump and the water-air pipe, and control the water pump to pump water from the water tank and spray water towards the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera via the water-air pipe.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the air blowing unit comprises an air pump and an air pipe connected to an air outlet of the air pump, and the water spraying unit comprises a water pump, a water tank and a water pipe connected to a water outlet of the water pump,

the MCU, configured to control the air blowing unit in the cleaning device to blow air towards the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera based on the air blowing information, is configured to: activate the air pump to blow air towards the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera via the air pipe, and

the MCU, configured to control the water spraying unit in the cleaning device to spray water towards the surface of the protective cover of the camera based on the water spraying information, is configured to: activate the water pump to pump water from the water tank and spray water towards the outer surface of the protective cover of the camera via the water pipe.

20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the heating plate is a silicone electrical heating film.