Systems, methods, and apparatus for smart multi-tier power running board with ground sensing technologies

An adjustable running board system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

• one or more support bars movably attached to the vehicle and configured to move between a stowed position and a deployed position;
• one or more steps each attached to the one or more support bars;
• an actuator connected to one end of each support bar of the one or more support bars and configured to cause the one or more support bars to move between the stowed position and the deployed position;
• one or more sensors attached to at least one of (i) the one or more support bars, (ii) the one or more steps, or (iii) the vehicle and configured to detect sensor data related to a ground clearance between a ground and the vehicle;
• and
• a controller coupled to the actuator and the one or more sensors and configured to:
• obtain data indicative of a request to move the one or more support bars from the stowed position to the deployed position,
• determine, based on the detected sensor data, the deployed position for moving the one or more support bars, and
• control, based on the determined deployed position, the actuator to move the one or more support bars from the stowed position to the deployed position.

A method for providing an adjustable running board system for a vehicle, the method comprising:

• obtaining, by a controller, data indicative of a request to move one or more support bars of the adjustable running board system from a stowed position to a deployed position, the one or more support bars being movably attached to the vehicle and configured to move between the stowed position and the deployed position;
• detecting, by one or more sensors in data communication with the controller and attached to at least one of (i) the one or more support bars, (ii) one or more steps attached to the one or more support bars, or (iii) the vehicle, sensor data related to a ground clearance between a ground and the vehicle;
• determining, by the controller and based on the detected sensor data, the deployed position for moving the one or more support bars;
• and
• controlling, by the controller, an actuator in data communication with the controller and attached to the one or more support bars to move the one or more support bars from the stowed position to the deployed position.