System and methods to detect blocked vehicles
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsMichael McQuillen, Daniel A. Makled
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Method and apparatus are disclosed for systems and method to detect blocked vehicles. An example vehicle includes range detection sensors and a body control module. When the vehicle is parked, the body control module (a) scans, with the range detection sensors, the area around the vehicle to detect objects, (b) based on positions of the objects, determines whether the vehicle is able to maneuver out of its current parking spot, and (c) when the vehicle is not able to maneuver, sends an alert to a mobile device of a driver of the vehicle.
Claims15
A vehicle comprising:
- range detection sensors;
- a body control module to, when the vehicle is parked:
- scan, with the range detection sensors, an area around the vehicle to detect objects;
- based on positions of the objects, determine whether the vehicle is able to maneuver out of its current parking spot;
- when the vehicle is not able to maneuver, send an alert to a mobile device of a driver of the vehicle.
A method to detect when a vehicle is blocked comprising:
- when the vehicle is parked:
- scanning, with a first type of range detection sensor, an area around the vehicle to detect objects;
- based on positions of the objects, determining whether the vehicle is able to maneuver out of its current parking spot;
- when the vehicle is not able to maneuver, sending an alert to a mobile device of a driver of the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.