Lyft, Inc.
Energy Harvesting System for Active Cooling of Automotive Sensing Devices

Abstract:

In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a system for harvesting energy and cooling an automotive sensing unit, the system comprising a solar-energy collecting panel, a turbine, and an electrical energy storage device. The solar-energy collecting panel shields the sensor device from solar irradiation while converting solar energy to electrical energy for storage in the storage device. The turbine converts convective heat flow from the sensor device into electrical energy for storage in the storage device. The stored electrical energy in the storage device can be further used to power an active cooling system for the sensor device. The stored electrical energy can also be further used to power other systems of the host vehicle.