Vehicle computing system cooling systems
Systems and methods for cooling a vehicle computing system are provided. A computing system can include a first cooling baseplate including a first planar cooling surface and a second cooling baseplate including a second planar cooling surface. The computing system can further include one or more computing devices including a processor blade positioned on the first planar cooling surface, a coprocessor blade positioned on the second planar cooling surface, and a flexible connector coupled between the processor blade and the coprocessor blade. The flexible connector can be configured to transfer at least one of data or electric power between the processor blade and the coprocessor blade. The first planar cooling surface can be configured to transfer heat from the processor blade to a cooling fluid via conduction. The second planar cooling surface can be configured to transfer heat from the coprocessor blade to the cooling fluid via conduction.
1. An autonomous vehicle computing system, comprising:
a first cooling baseplate, comprising:
a first planar cooling surface;
a first external housing oriented substantially parallel to the first planar cooling surface;
an inlet configured to receive a cooling fluid;
an outlet; and
at least one cooling channel coupled between the inlet and the outlet, the at least one cooling channel positioned between the first planar cooling surface and the first external housing, the at least one cooling channel configured to allow the cooling fluid to flow between the inlet and the outlet and provide cooling to the first planar cooling surface;
a second cooling baseplate, comprising:
a second planar cooling surface;
a second external housing oriented substantially parallel to the second planar cooling surface;
an inlet configured to receive the cooling fluid;
an outlet; and
at least one cooling channel coupled between the inlet and the outlet, the at least one cooling channel positioned between the second planar cooling surface and the second external housing, the at least one cooling channel configured to allow the cooling fluid to flow between the inlet and the outlet and provide cooling to the second planar cooling surface;
a cooling fluid connector coupled between the outlet of the first cooling baseplate and the inlet of the second cooling baseplate, the fluid connector configured to allow the cooling fluid to flow from the outlet of the first cooling baseplate to the inlet of the second cooling baseplate;
one or more computing devices, each computing device comprising:
a processor blade, the processor blade comprising a processor, the processor blade positioned on the first planar cooling surface in a surface-mounted orientation parallel to the first planar cooling surface; and
a coprocessor carrier, the coprocessor carrier comprising one or more coprocessor blades, each of the one or more coprocessor blades comprising at least one coprocessor, the one or more coprocessor blades positioned on the second planar cooling surface in a surface-mounted orientation parallel to the second planar cooling surface; and
a flexible connector coupled between the processor blade and at least one of the one or more coprocessor blades, the flexible connector configured to transfer at least one of data or electric power between the processor blade and the at least one coprocessor blade.
2. The autonomous vehicle computing system of claim 1 , wherein the flexible connector comprises a layer of polyimide film coated with a plurality of copper strands and an insulative sealant.
3. The autonomous vehicle computing system of claim 2 , wherein the layer of polyimide film is approximately 1.0 to 6.0 mils thick; and
wherein each of the plurality of copper strands is approximately 0.2 to 2.0 mils thick.
4. The autonomous vehicle computing system of claim 2 , wherein the polyimide film is incorporated into the coprocessor carrier.
5. The autonomous vehicle computing system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more coprocessor blades comprise a first coprocessor blade and a second coprocessor blade;
wherein the flexible connector coupled between the processor blade and at least one of the one or more coprocessor blades comprises a first flexible connector coupled between the processor blade and the first coprocessor blade;
wherein the computing system further comprises a second flexible connector coupled between the first coprocessor blade and the second coprocessor blade; and
wherein the second flexible connector is configured to transfer at least one of data or electric power between the first coprocessor blade and the second coprocessor blade.
6. The autonomous vehicle computing system of claim 5 , wherein the second flexible connector comprises a preformed bend and is configured to accommodate a variation in a mounting height of the first coprocessor blade and a mounting height of the second coprocessor blade.
7. The autonomous vehicle computing system of claim 1 , wherein the processor of the processor blade is coupled to the first planar cooling surface using a thermally conductive compound.
8. The autonomous vehicle computing system of claim 1 , wherein each coprocessor blade further comprises a heat spreader coupled between the coprocessor blade and the second planar cooling surface to assist in heat transfer between the respective coprocessor and the second planar cooling surface.
9. The autonomous vehicle computing system of claim 1 , wherein the coprocessor of each coprocessor blade comprises a graphics processing unit, an application specific integrated circuit, or a field programmable gate array.
10. The autonomous vehicle computing system of claim 1 , wherein the first cooling baseplate or the second cooling baseplate further comprises a plurality of pin fins positioned within the at least one cooling channel of the respective cooling baseplate.
11. The autonomous vehicle computing system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cooling channel of the first cooling baseplate or the second cooling baseplate comprises a plurality of cooling channels.
12. The autonomous vehicle computing system of claim 1 , wherein the cooling fluid connector comprises a flexible hose.
13. The autonomous vehicle computing system of claim 1 , further comprising a hinge coupling the first cooling baseplate and the second cooling baseplate together; and
wherein the hinge is configured to allow the first cooling baseplate and the second cooling baseplate to pivotably open such that first external housing and the second external housing can lay flat in a common plane.
14. The autonomous vehicle computing system of claim 13 , further comprising a fastener;
wherein the fastener is configured to mechanically fasten the first cooling baseplate and the second cooling baseplate together when the hinge is pivotably closed such that the first external housing and the second external housing are substantially oriented in two parallel planes.
15. The autonomous vehicle computing system of claim 1 , wherein the first planar cooling surface is configured to transfer heat from the processor blade to the cooling fluid via conduction; and
wherein the second planar cooling surface is configured to transfer heat from the one or more coprocessor blades to the cooling fluid via conduction.
16. A computing system, comprising:
a cooling fluid source, the cooling fluid source configured to provide a cooling fluid; and
an autonomous vehicle computing system, comprising:
a first cooling baseplate, comprising:
a first planar cooling surface;
a first external housing oriented substantially parallel to the first planar cooling surface;
an inlet configured to receive the cooling fluid;
an outlet; and
at least one cooling channel coupled between the inlet and the outlet, the at least one cooling channel positioned between the first planar cooling surface and the first external housing, the at least one cooling channel configured to allow the cooling fluid to flow between the inlet and the outlet and provide cooling to the planar cooling surface;
a second cooling baseplate, comprising:
a second planar cooling surface;
a second external housing oriented substantially parallel to the second planar cooling surface;
an inlet configured to receive the cooling fluid;
an outlet; and
at least one cooling channel coupled between the inlet and the outlet, the at least one cooling channel positioned between the second planar cooling surface and the second external housing, the at least one cooling channel configured to allow the cooling fluid to flow between the inlet and the outlet and provide cooling to the planar cooling surface;
a cooling fluid connector coupled between the outlet of the first cooling baseplate and the inlet of the second cooling baseplate, the fluid connector configured to allow the cooling fluid to flow from the outlet of the first cooling baseplate to the inlet of the second cooling baseplate;
one or more computing devices, each computing device comprising:
a processor blade, the processor blade comprising a processor, the processor blade positioned on the first planar cooling surface in a surface-mounted orientation parallel to the first planar cooling surface; and
a coprocessor carrier, the coprocessor carrier comprising one or more coprocessor blades, each of the one or more coprocessor blades comprising at least one coprocessor, the one or more coprocessor blades positioned on the second planar cooling surface in a surface-mounted orientation parallel to the second planar cooling surface; and
a flexible connector coupled between the processor blade and at least one of the one or more coprocessor blades, the flexible connector configured to transfer at least one of data or electric power between the processor blade and the at least one coprocessor blade;
wherein the first planar cooling surface is configured to transfer heat from the processor blade to the cooling fluid via conduction; and
wherein the second planar cooling surface is configured to transfer heat from the one or more coprocessor blades to the cooling fluid via conduction.
17. The computing system of claim 16 , wherein the flexible connector comprises a layer of polyimide film coated with a plurality of copper strands and an insulative sealant.
18. The computing system of claim 16 , wherein the cooling fluid connector comprises a flexible hose.
19. The computing system of claim 16 , further comprising a hinge coupling the first cooling baseplate and the second cooling baseplate together; and
wherein the hinge is configured to allow the first cooling baseplate and the second cooling baseplate to pivotably open such that first external housing and the second external housing can lay flat in a common plane.
20. An autonomous vehicle, comprising:
a cooling fluid source, the cooling fluid source configured to provide a cooling fluid; and
an autonomous vehicle computing system, comprising:
a first cooling baseplate, comprising:
a first planar cooling surface;
a first external housing oriented substantially parallel to the first planar cooling surface;
an inlet configured to receive the cooling fluid;
an outlet; and
at least one cooling channel coupled between the inlet and the outlet, the at least one cooling channel positioned between the first planar cooling surface and the first external housing, the at least one cooling channel configured to allow the cooling fluid to flow between the inlet and the outlet and provide cooling to the planar cooling surface;
a second cooling baseplate, comprising:
a second planar cooling surface;
a second external housing oriented substantially parallel to the second planar cooling surface;
an inlet configured to receive the cooling fluid;
an outlet; and
at least one cooling channel coupled between the inlet and the outlet, the at least one cooling channel positioned between the second planar cooling surface and the second external housing, the at least one cooling channel configured to allow the cooling fluid to flow between the inlet and the outlet and provide cooling to the planar cooling surface;
a cooling fluid connector coupled between the outlet of the first cooling baseplate and the inlet of the second cooling baseplate, the fluid connector configured to allow the cooling fluid to flow from the outlet of the first cooling baseplate to the inlet of the second cooling baseplate;
one or more computing devices, each computing device comprising:
a processor blade, the processor blade comprising a processor, the processor blade positioned on the first planar cooling surface in a surface-mounted orientation parallel to the first planar cooling surface; and
a coprocessor carrier, the coprocessor carrier comprising one or more coprocessor blades, each of the one or more coprocessor blades comprising at least one coprocessor, the one or more coprocessor blades positioned on the second planar cooling surface in a surface-mounted orientation parallel to the second planar cooling surface; and
a flexible connector comprising a layer of film coated with a plurality of strands, the flexible connector coupled between the processor blade and at least one of the one or more coprocessor blades, the flexible connector configured to transfer at least one of data or electric power between the processor blade and the at least one coprocessor blade.