This document proposes a standard test procedure to assess the efficiency of cleaning systems for sensors. It addresses the following conditions:

—     dust/mud

—     frost/snow

—     mist/rain

This document does not propose a preferred cleaning system. This document is intended to be technologically neutral and performance-oriented. Its focus is on the cleaning system, not on sensor detection. The assessment method specified in this document is therefore fully independent from sensor technology and from the data generated by the sensor when in use.

This document is entirely focussed on the cleanliness of the front surface of the sensor.

This document does not address continuous contamination, such as continuous rain. This is because in these circumstances, the efficiency of the cleaning system can only be assessed from inside the sensor.

For non-continuous contamination, this document includes intermittent cleaning, which is considered a succession of cleaning cycles that are launched periodically, as defined in 3.2.

The test does not include specific day time/night time conditions. This is because these conditions have no impact on the results and the average clean remains similar. However, more efficient cleaning can be done at night.

This document does not cover contamination with insects due to the challenges of ensuring homogeneous application.

This document does not provide indicators for sensor performance. This document is limited to the evaluation of the removal of contamination from surfaces.

This document does not include evaluation on preventive measures taken in the installation design. The aerodynamic design affects how mud sprayed from a moving vehicle or rain droplets can reach and build-up on the sensor's frontal protection layer. Countermeasure design is beyond the scope of this document.