Tesla Reveals How They Successfully Hides Ultrasonic Sensors Outside The Car

The automaker needs to collect enough data to bring autonomous cars on the road. But self-driving technology involves the introduction of a lot of sensors that may be tricky to hide from the vehicles.

Instead, Tesla is putting a lot of work into integrating the sensors, which became evident with the cameras on the second-generation Autopilot hardware suite. However, the company went ahead with their latest ultrasonic sensors.

The company employs ultrasonic sensors as proximity sensors, for its Autopilot, also, for its auto-presenting and Falcon Wing doors on the Model X with Tesla applying for the patent for integrating the sensors back in August 2015.

The patent application forced Tesla to develop new sensors or new ideas to hide the sensors because CEO Elon Musk didn't like the thought of a visible sensor in the middle of a door.

The application filed said that the ultrasonic sensor was installed against an inside surface of the panel to sense the objects on the other side. The panel comprises damping material, preload structure, and coupling element with the structure using preload on the ultrasonic sensor toward the inside surface of the panel.

The Tesla Model X is an all-electric all-wheel drive luxury crossover SUV. The car is offered either with a 75kwh or 90kwh lithium-ion battery pack. The Model X is rated at a 402-414km range with a single charge.

The highest performance version of the Model X P90D can sprint from 0-100km/h in 3.2 seconds.

With an impressive performance of the Tesla Model X, the crossover SUV is competing with some of the best sports cars in the auto world. Here is another sports car from McLaren, the 720S, which was recently unveiled at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, below is the photo gallery, click to view.