Techniques to Obtain Information About Objects Around a Vehicle

A method for monitoring an area surrounding a host vehicle or objects external of the host vehicle during movement of the host vehicle under control of an occupant in the host vehicle, the host vehicle having a frame defining a compartment that accommodates the occupant of the host vehicle who is able to guide movement of the host vehicle when present in the compartment, the method comprising:

• projecting light into an area of interest external to the host vehicle from at least one light source on the host vehicle;
• detecting reflected light at at least one camera arranged on the host vehicle at a position different than the position of the at least one light source and at a position from which light reflected from any objects in the area of interest in the exterior of the host vehicle is received;
• analyzing the reflected light relative to the projected light to obtain information about a distance between the host vehicle and objects located in the area of interest and motion of the objects located in the area of interest;
• and
• causing an action on the vehicle based on the obtained information about the distance and motion.