Automated retractable vehicle step

A remotely controlled retractable vehicle step system configured for use with a vehicle comprises:

• a stepping member having a stepping surface and being movable between a retracted position and a deployed position with respect to the vehicle;
• at least one support member connectable with respect to an underside of the vehicle and connected to the stepping member, the at least one support member configured to at least partially support the stepping member with respect to the vehicle;
• a motor operably coupled to the at least one support member and capable of effectuating movement of the stepping member from the retracted position to the deployed position;
• a light configured to illuminate the stepping member when activated;
• and
• a controller in electronic communication with the motor and the light, the controller comprising a wireless communication interface configured to communicate wirelessly with a remote electronic device, wherein the controller is configured to operate the motor and the light based at least in part on commands received from the remote electronic device, wherein the controller is configured to transmit a real-time status of a position of the stepping member to the remote electronic device via the wireless communication interface.

A remotely controlled retractable vehicle step system configured for use with a vehicle comprises:

• a stepping member having a stepping surface and being movable between a retracted position and a deployed position with respect to the vehicle;
• at least one support member connectable with respect to an underside of the vehicle and connected to the stepping member, the at least one support member configured to at least partially support the stepping member with respect to the vehicle;
• a motor operably coupled to the at least one support member and capable of effectuating movement of the stepping member from the retracted position to the deployed position;
• a light configured to illuminate the stepping member when activated;
• and
• a controller in electronic communication with the motor and the light, the controller comprising a wireless communication interface configured to communicate wirelessly with a remote electronic device, wherein the controller is configured to operate the motor and the light based at least in part on commands received from the remote electronic device, wherein the remote electronic device comprises a fob.

A remotely controlled retractable vehicle step system configured for use with a vehicle comprises:

• a stepping member having a stepping surface and being movable between a retracted position and a deployed position with respect to the vehicle;
• at least one support member connectable with respect to an underside of the vehicle and connected to the stepping member, the at least one support member configured to at least partially support the stepping member with respect to the vehicle;
• a motor operably coupled to the at least one support member and capable of effectuating movement of the stepping member from the retracted position to the deployed position;
• a light configured to illuminate the stepping member when activated;
• and
• a controller in electronic communication with the motor, the controller comprising a wireless communication interface configured to communicate wirelessly with a remote electronic device;
• and
• wherein the controller further comprises an electronic memory configured to store an automatic step deployment setting, the automatic step deployment setting having an activated state and a deactivated state,
• wherein the controller is further configured to:
• update a state of the automatic step deployment setting in response to data received from the remote electronic device,
• when the automatic step deployment setting is in the activated state, automatically operate the motor to deploy or retract the stepping member in response to data generated by a vehicle computing system, and
• when the automatic step deployment setting is in the deactivated state, not automatically operate the motor to deploy or retract the stepping member in response to data generated by the vehicle computing system,
• wherein the electronic memory is further configured to store an automatic lighting setting, the automatic lighting setting having an activated state and a deactivated state, and
• wherein the controller is further configured to:
• update a state of the automatic lighting setting in response to data received from the remote electronic device,
• when the automatic lighting setting is in the activated state, automatically operate the light in response to data generated by the vehicle computing system, and when the automatic lighting setting is in the deactivated state,
• not automatically operate the light in response to data by the vehicle computing system.

A remotely controlled retractable vehicle step system configured for use with a vehicle comprises:

• a stepping member having a stepping surface and being movable between a retracted position and a deployed position with respect to the vehicle;
• at least one support member connectable with respect to an underside of the vehicle and connected to the stepping member, the at least one support member configured to at least partially support the stepping member with respect to the vehicle;
• a motor operably coupled to the at least one support member and capable of effectuating movement of the stepping member from the retracted position to the deployed position;
• a light configured to illuminate the stepping member when activated;
• and a controller in electronic communication with the motor and the light, the controller comprising a wireless communication interface configured to communicate wirelessly with a remote electronic device,
• wherein the controller is configured to transmit a real-time status of a position of the stepping member to the remote electronic device via the wireless communication interface,
• and wherein the controller is configured to transmit a real-time status of the light to the remote electronic device via the wireless communication interface.