LiDAR / depth camera dirty or blinded
Navigation or perception degrades because LiDAR or depth cameras are dirty, fogged, or covered.
Quick answers
What you might notice
- Blind / obstacle errors
- Perception degraded
- Cloudy camera or LiDAR window
Can I fix this myself?
Difficulty: easy · about 5-15 min. If unsafe or unresolved, use meetup / mail-in repair.
What you need
- Lens cleaning cloth
- Compressed air (optional)
Do this
- Power down. Wipe LiDAR windows and depth cameras with a clean lens cloth — no solvents on optics.
- Clear soft cases, stickers, or mounts that block the sensor field of view.
- Reboot and re-test in a well-lit, uncluttered space. If hardware still faults after cleaning, request repair assessment.
Parts
- None for a basic check