Systems and apparatuses for mitigating LiDAR noise, vibration, and harshness
An isolation system for a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) optical core assembly is provided. The LiDAR optical core assembly comprises a polygon-motor rotating element, an oscillating reflective element, and transmitting and collection optics. The isolation system comprises a polygon-motor base element coupled to the polygon-motor rotating element and a plurality of isolators substantially fixed to the polygon-motor base element and disposed relative to each other around a spatial location determined based on a center of gravity of at least one of the optical core assembly and the polygon-motor rotating element. The plurality of isolators is adapted to mitigate acoustic noise caused by at least the polygon-motor rotating element during operation of the optical core assembly.
1. An isolation system for a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) optical core assembly having at least a polygon-motor rotating element, an oscillating reflective element, and transmitting and collection optics, the isolation system comprising:
a polygon-motor base element coupled to the polygon-motor rotating element; and
a plurality of isolators substantially fixed to the polygon-motor base element and disposed relative to each other around a spatial location determined based on a center of gravity of at least one of the optical core assembly and the polygon-motor rotating element, wherein the plurality of isolators is adapted to mitigate acoustic noise caused by at least the polygon-motor rotating element during operation of the optical core assembly.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the polygon-motor base element comprises:
a bracket portion that at least partially encloses the polygon-motor rotating element, the bracket portion having integrally formed flanges disposed to receive the plurality of isolators; and
a plurality of fasteners adapted to couple each of the plurality of isolators to corresponding ones of the integrally formed flanges.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of fasteners is further adapted to couple the polygon-motor base element to an inner surface of an enclosure for the optical core assembly.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the polygon-motor base element is coupled to a polygon mirror axle of the polygon-motor rotating element.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of isolators is adapted to support a load at least equal to a total weight of the optical core assembly.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of isolators is adapted to support an equal amount of load.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of isolators to adapted to support a load of at least 150 grams.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of isolators comprises a synthetic rubber material.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of isolators comprises a grommet.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of isolators comprises at least three isolators.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the spatial location corresponds to the center of gravity of the optical core assembly.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the spatial location corresponds to the center of gravity of the polygon-motor rotating element.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the spatial location is disposed between the center of gravity of the optical core assembly and the center of gravity of the polygon-motor rotating element.
14. The system of claim 1 , wherein a horizontal component of the spatial location corresponds to a location equidistant from each of the plurality of isolators, and a vertical component of the spatial location corresponds to a height of the center of gravity.
15. The system of claim 1 , wherein an unmitigated audible sound level caused by the operation of the optical core assembly is 70 75 dB.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of isolators is adapted to mitigate the acoustic noise caused by the operation of the optical core assembly to an audible sound level of less than 25 dB.
17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the acoustic noise is caused by at least one of an imbalance, a shock displacement, a vibration, a lateral wobble, or other directional displacement of the polygon-motor rotating element during operation of the optical core assembly.
18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the polygon-motor rotating element is adapted to rotate at speeds between 3000-12000 revolutions per minute during the operation of the optical core assembly.
19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the polygon-motor rotating element, the oscillating reflective element, and the transmitting and collection optics are adapted to maintain a substantially fixed alignment relative to each other during operation of the optical core assembly.
20. The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more stop elements adapted to limit displacement of the optical core assembly.
21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the one or more stop elements are adapted to limit displacement of the optical core assembly within 1 mm of a nominal position.
22. The system of claim 20 , wherein the plurality of isolators comprises the one or more stop elements.
23. A LiDAR scanning system comprising an isolation system for a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) optical core assembly having at least a polygon-motor rotating element, an oscillating reflective element, and transmitting and collection optics, the isolation system comprising:
a polygon-motor base element coupled to the polygon-motor rotating element; and
a plurality of isolators substantially fixed to the polygon-motor base element and disposed relative to each other around a spatial location determined based on a center of gravity of at least one of the optical core assembly and the polygon-motor rotating element, wherein the plurality of isolators is adapted to mitigate acoustic noise caused by at least the polygon-motor rotating element during operation of the optical core assembly.
24. The LiDAR scanning system of claim 23 , wherein the LiDAR scanning system is coupled to a vehicle.
25. The LiDAR scanning system of claim 24 , wherein the LiDAR scanning system is coupled to a roof element of the vehicle.
26. The LiDAR scanning system of claim 24 , wherein the LiDAR scanning system is coupled to a location on the vehicle corresponding to a determined location of maximum structural rigidity.
27. A vehicle comprising a LiDAR scanning system, wherein the LiDAR scanning system comprises an isolation system for a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) optical core assembly having at least a polygon-motor rotating element, an oscillating reflective element, and transmitting and collection optics, the isolation system comprising:
a polygon-motor base element coupled to the polygon-motor rotating element; and
a plurality of isolators substantially fixed to the polygon-motor base element and disposed relative to each other around a spatial location determined based on a center of gravity of at least one of the optical core assembly and the polygon-motor rotating element, wherein the plurality of isolators is adapted to mitigate acoustic noise caused by at least the polygon-motor rotating element during operation of the optical core assembly.
28. The vehicle of claim 27 , wherein the isolation system further comprises one or more stop elements adapted to limit displacement of the optical core assembly during operation of the vehicle.
29. The vehicle of claim 28 , wherein the one or more stop elements are adapted to limit displacement of the optical core assembly within 1 mm of a nominal position during operation of the vehicle.