Parking aid notification by vibration

A parking aid system for a vehicle having a steering wheel, the parking aid system comprising:

• a control unit;
• a plurality of first sensors on the vehicle and communicating with the electronic control unit, each of the first sensors operable to detect an object near the vehicle and send a first input signal to the electronic control unit when the object is detected;
• and
• a plurality of indicators disposed around a periphery of the steering wheel, each of the indicators selectively operable to vibrate when activated by the control unit;
• and
• a second sensor disposed in the steering wheel and communicating with the electronic control unit, the second sensor operable to detect a gripping force and send a second input signal to the electronic control unit when the gripping force is detected,
• wherein the electronic control unit is operable to receive the first and second input signals, determine a peripheral position of a hand of the driver on the steering wheel based on the second input signal, and selectively activate the indicators proximate to the peripheral position of the hand when the first sensor detects the object.

A method of communicating a location of an object detected near a vehicle to a driver of the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a plurality of object detection sensors proximate a periphery of the vehicle;
• (b) providing a plurality of indicators in a component of the vehicle, the component in contact with the driver, the indicators spaced apart in the component such that the driver can determine a relative position of the indicators when the indicators are activated;
• (c) detecting an object with one of the sensors;
• and
• (d) activating the indicators to communicate a location of the object detected by the one of the sensors to the driver, the location based on the relative position of the activated indicators.