Ford Global Technologies, LLC

Bradford Scott Bondy

Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam

Muhannad Anwar Hamdan

Christian Wegner

John Robert Van Wiemeersch

A vehicle having a tailgate configured to move between retracted and extended positions is disclosed. The vehicle includes a first detection unit, a second detection unit, a third detection unit and a control unit. The control unit obtains a first input from the first detection unit and determines whether the tailgate is in extended position. The control unit further obtains a second input and a third input from the second and third detection units respectively, when the tailgate is in the extended position. Responsive to obtaining the second and third inputs, the control unit identifies a tailgate extended orientation. In addition, the control unit detects an obstacle presence in a vehicle rear side proximity and calculates a calibrated distance between the obstacle and a tailgate top side, based on the tailgate extended orientation. The control unit notifies a vehicle user when the calibrated distance is less than a threshold.

Method for truck backup with dynamic length

Systems and methods for providing a three-dimensional (3-D) parking assist feature include receiving sensor data from a plurality of different sensors with respect to a 3-D volume surrounding a top side of a vehicle, lateral sides of the vehicle, and at least one longitudinal end side of the vehicle, determining a 3-D envelope around the vehicle defined by a closest object relative to each of the top side, the lateral sides, and the at least one longitudinal end side of the vehicle, and outputting a distance measurement of the 3-D envelope relative to each of the top side, the lateral sides, and the at least one longitudinal end side of the vehicle on one or more vehicle display, wherein a negative distance is indicative of an overshoot or interference condition.

Three-dimensional parking assist

A system for determining lane information. A memory storing instructions executable by a processor includes instructions to receive forward image data of a roadway from a forward-facing camera of a vehicle, determine visible lane boundaries of the driving lane based on lane marking features in the forward image data, determine a predicted lane boundary of the driving lane based, at least in part, on forward features in the forward image data, and determine a driving path of the vehicle through the visible lane boundaries and the predicted lane boundary.

Vehicle lane boundary detection

Upon detecting that a vehicle is parked, based on data from at least one of a sensor and a component in the vehicle, determine a location of the vehicle. Upon detecting that a vehicle operator has exited the vehicle, based on data from at least one of a sensor and a component in the vehicle, determine if the key fob is in the vehicle. Upon detecting that the key fob is in the vehicle, and based on the location of the vehicle, schedule a message to a user device.

Growing community of inventors

St. Clair Shores, MI, United States of America

Bradford Scott Bondy