Smart parking systems and control logic for vehicle assisted occupant egress

Abstract

A method of operating a host vehicle includes a vehicle controller communicating with vehicle dynamics sensors and/or vehicle control modules to determine if the host vehicle is parked; if so, the controller responsively retrieves sensor data from a vehicle sensor array to detect any open spots adjacent the lateral sides of the host vehicle. For each detected open spot, the vehicle controller determines if there is an occupant in a vehicle seat exiting the host vehicle into that open spot; if so, the controller responsively activates a distinct subset of sensor array sensors assigned to the corresponding vehicle seat. Using real-time sensor data received from the subset of sensors, the vehicle controller determines if a target vehicle is approaching the corresponding open spot; if so, the controller responsively commands a vehicle subsystem to execute a remediating action to prevent the occupant from exiting the passenger cabin into the open spot.