US 12,362,470 B1
Systems, methods, and apparatus for determining characteristics of a radome
Stephan Heinrich, Mountain View, CA (US); and Michael Fina, Mountain View, CA (US)
Assigned to Waymo LLC, Mountain View, CA (US)
Filed by Waymo LLC, Mountain View, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 18, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/530,108.
Int. Cl. H01Q 1/42 (2006.01); G01S 13/931 (2020.01); H01Q 1/32 (2006.01)
CPC H01Q 1/42 (2013.01) [G01S 13/931 (2013.01); G01S 2013/93273 (2020.01); H01Q 1/3275 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for determining a characteristic of a radome comprising:
a radar coupled to a vehicle, wherein the radar is at least partially protected by the radome, and wherein an outer surface of the radome is coated with a hydrophobic coating;
a memory for storing radar data; and
a computing device coupled to the vehicle, wherein the computing device is configured to:
cause a first radar signal to be transmitted by the radar toward an object;
receive first radar data representative of a first reflected radar signal, the first reflected radar signal comprising at least a portion of the first radar signal reflected from the object;
determine a first parameter associated with the first reflected radar signal based on at least the first radar data;
trigger a fluid to be sprayed onto the outer surface of the radome;
cause a second radar signal to be transmitted toward the object after the fluid is sprayed onto the outer surface of the radome;
receive second radar data representative of a second reflected radar signal, the second reflected radar signal comprising at least a portion of the second radar signal reflected from the object;
determine a second parameter associated with the second reflected radar signal based on at least the second radar data;
perform a first comparison between the first parameter and the second parameter to determine a performance metric that represents a current transmission loss caused by the radome, wherein the current transmission loss is caused at least in part by droplets of the fluid that remain on the outer surface of the radome;
perform a second comparison between the performance metric and a threshold value, wherein the threshold value represents a baseline transmission loss expected for the radome when the hydrophobic coating is in a non-degraded state; and
based on the second comparison indicating the performance metric exceeds the threshold value, provide an alert that indicates the radome is degrading performance of the radar, wherein providing the alert includes transmitting a notification to a second computing device positioned remotely from the vehicle, the notification indicating that the hydrophobic coating on the outer surface of the radome requires servicing.