System and method for sensing occluded objects in locations outside vehicle sensor field-of-view

A system for occluded area detection, comprising:

• at least one sensor associated with a vehicle, the at least one sensor configured to be selectively positioned in a retracted position or a deployed position, wherein (i) in the retracted position, a field-of-view of the at least one sensor is blocked such that the at least one sensor is incapable of detecting an area proximate to the vehicle, and (ii) in the deployed position, the field-of-view of the at least one sensor is exposed such that the at least one sensor is capable of detecting the area proximate to the vehicle;
• and
• a processing device in communication with the at least one sensor, wherein the processing device is configured to execute instructions stored in a memory to perform operations comprising:
• determining if the vehicle is in a non-stationary mode or a stationary mode;
• if the vehicle is in the stationary mode equal to or greater than a predetermined period of time, positioning the at least one sensor in a deployed position to detect the area proximate to the vehicle;
• and
• if the vehicle is in the non-stationary mode, positioning the at least one sensor in the retracted position.