Stretch and Twist to Shed'em Off: Self-Cleaning Shields for Sensors by Soft but Tough Materials

在恶劣环境中工作的传感器，如工作在自动驾驶车辆上的光学和无线电波传感器，经常会因泥浆、粘土和冰泥等污垢条件而过时。艾伯塔省的极端天气条件，如冬天多雪，春季泥泞，使情况急剧恶化。虽然许多防污方法已经商业化，但这些方法不适合艾伯塔省结冰/泥泞/泥泞的结垢条件。例如，可以通过电解系统、加药、超声波系统和电氯化来减轻海洋污染，但这些都不适用。飞机通过喷洒一层保护液来防止结冰，每一次飞行的保护液的厚度都是如此。但这种配方是专门针对防冰的。最近发展起来的纳米结构表面涂层技术可以提供不粘着冰和其他污染物的条件，但其效果通常是暂时的，因为纳米结构容易磨损。此外，直接在传感器表面涂覆涂层可能不是一个好的选择，因为即使涂层不再有效，更换也会很困难。我们提出的“能够拉伸和扭曲的盾牌”策略是一种定制的理想方法，可以清除在艾伯塔省无处不在的粘土和冰泥污垢。艾伯塔省的污垢污染物比大多数其他污垢物质沉积得更厚、更粘，但它们本质上是颗粒状的。Inusedoil层在防护罩的固体部分和污垢剂之间提供了物理屏障。水射流可以用来去除油污表面的污染物。对于持久性污染物，超声波剥离所带来的“拉伸和扭曲”将允许低能耗地完全去除。我们预计，我们的“屏蔽”理念将有助于保护汽车以及任何户外场所的传感器。

Sensors that operate in harsh environment, such as optical and radiowave sensors operating in autonomousvehicles become obsolete frequently by fouling conditions, including mud, clay, and ice slush. Extremeweather condition in Alberta, such as snowy condition in Winter and muddy condition in Spring, aggravatesthe situation drastically. While many anti-fouling methods have been commercially available, these methodsare not suitable for icy/muddy/slushy fouling condition in Alberta. For example, marine fouling is mitigated byelectrolytic system, chemical dosing, ultrasonic system, and electro-chlorination, but these are not applicable.Aircrafts are protected from ice by spraying a layer of protective liquid, whose thickness lasts for each flight.But, the formula is specifically for anti-icing. Recently developed technology of nanostructured surfacecoatings may provide non-sticking condition against ice and other contaminants, but its effect is usuallytemporary because the nanostructures wear off easily. In addition, applying coating directly on the surface ofsensor may not be a good choice because replacing will be difficult even when the coating is no longereffective. Our proposed method of 'shield that is capable of stretching and twisting' strategy is a customized ideal methodto remove clay and ice slush fouling that is omnipresent in Alberta. The fouling contaminants in Alberta are tobe deposited thicker and stickier than most other fouling materials, yet they are granular in nature. The infusedoil layer provides a physical barrier between the solid part of the shield and the fouling agents. Water jet can beused to remove contaminants from the oily surface. For persistent contaminants, the 'stretch and twist'complimented by ultrasonic shedding will allow a complete removal at low energy consumption. We anticipatethat our idea of 'shield' will be useful to protect the sensors in automotive vehicles, as well as in any outdooruses.