US Patent 10579882 Sensor module

A vehicle includes a vehicle body having an outer surface, and a sensor that is arranged to observe an environment. The sensor is located within the vehicle body. The vehicle also includes a movement mechanism for moving the sensor from an outward position to an inward position relative to the vehicle body. The movement mechanism moves the sensor from the outward position to the inward position in response to a signal. In an alternative implementation, the sensor is disposed in a sensor module, and the sensor module is able to move relative to the vehicle body from an outboard position to an inboard position in response to application of an external force to the sensor module.