VEHICLE SYSTEMS TO IMPROVE ENTRY AND EXIT FOR USERS

Abstract

A vehicle system for assisting a user in a parking lot comprises a sensing module configured to receive data about the parking lot and a control module. The control module is configured to use the data received from the sensing module to determine whether a parking space is available in the parking lot, to determine the size of the space required by the user when exiting the vehicle, to determine, based on the determined size of the required space, whether the available parking space provides sufficient room for the user, and, in response to determining that the available parking space provides sufficient room for the user, to optimize the vehicle's parking orientation relative to at least one boundary of the available parking space based on the space required by the user.Further examples of vehicle systems and methods for assisting users in parking lots are also revealed.

Description

INTRODUCTION

[0001] The information provided in this section is intended to provide a general context for the disclosure. Work by the presently named inventors, to the extent described in this section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise be considered prior art at the time of filing, are not expressly or impliedly admitted as prior art against this disclosure.

[0002] The present disclosure relates to vehicle systems for improving ingress and / or egress for users, such as users with mobility impairments.

[0003] Vehicles may include driver assistance systems that assist the driver with driving and parking. Driver assistance systems rely on sensors and cameras to provide such functions. SUMMARY

[0004] A vehicle system for assisting a user in a parking space is disclosed. The vehicle system includes a sensing module configured to receive data relating to the parking space and a control module communicatively connected to the sensing module.The control module is configured to detect, based on the data received from the detection module, whether an available parking space is present in the parking space, determine a size of space required by the user when exiting the vehicle, determine, based on the determined size of the required space, whether the available parking space provides sufficient space for the user, and, in response to determining that the available parking space provides sufficient space for the user, optimize a parking orientation of the vehicle relative to at least one boundary of the available parking space based on the space required by the user.

[0005] In other features, the control module is configured to control the vehicle to enter the available parking space based on the parking orientation of the vehicle relative to the at least one boundary of the available parking space.

[0006] In other features, the control module is configured to detect user occupancy of the vehicle and optimize the parking orientation of the vehicle relative to the at least one boundary of the available parking space based on the space required by the user and the user occupancy.

[0007] In other features, the control module is configured to receive a minimum required dimension of a safety zone by the user and to determine the space required by the user based on the minimum required dimension.

[0008] In other features, the minimum required dimension of the safety zone is adjustable based on at least one of a dimension of the vehicle, a modification of the vehicle, a user-defined dimension, a suggested dimension, and a determined dimension of a user assistance device.

[0009] In other features, the control module is configured to detect whether a hazard is present near the available parking space based on the data received from the detection module and to warn the user of the detected hazard.

[0010] In other features, the control module is configured to warn the user of the detected hazard by illuminating the detected hazard and / or displaying a warning on a detected hazard display module.

[0011] In other features, the control module is configured to activate a warning to the user in response to the available parking space not providing sufficient room for the user.

[0012] In other features, the warning is at least one of a visual warning, an audible warning, and a haptic warning.

[0013] In other features, the control module is configured to receive data indicative of a user-based rating of the parking space and one or more characteristics of the parking space, and to display the user-based rating and the one or more characteristics of the parking space on a display module.

[0014] A vehicle system for assisting a user in a parking space is disclosed. The vehicle system includes a sensing module configured to receive data relating to the parking space and a control module communicatively coupled to the sensing module. The control module is configured to detect whether the user is approaching a vehicle parked in a parking space of the parking space, determine an available space adjacent to the vehicle based on the data received from the sensing module, determine a space required by the user to enter the vehicle, compare the space required by the user with the available space adjacent to the vehicle, and, in response to the space required by the user being less than the available space adjacent to the vehicle, illuminate an area adjacent to the vehicle to alert the user of insufficient space to enter the vehicle.

[0015] In other features, the control module is configured, in response to the space required by the user being greater than or equal to the available space adjacent to the vehicle, to detect whether a hazard is present adjacent to the vehicle based on the data received from the detection module and to warn the user of the detected hazard.

[0016] In other features, the control module is configured to warn the user of the detected hazard by illuminating the detected hazard.

[0017] In other features, the control module is configured to receive a minimum required dimension of a safety zone by the user and to determine the space required by the user based on the minimum required dimension.

[0018] In other features, the minimum required dimension of the safety zone is adjustable based on at least one of a dimension of the vehicle, a modification of the vehicle, a user-defined dimension, a suggested dimension, and a determined dimension of a user assistance device.

[0019] A vehicle system for assisting a user in a parking space is disclosed. The vehicle system includes a sensing module configured to receive data relating to the parking space and a control module communicatively coupled to the sensing module. The control module is configured to determine a size of space required by the user to enter or exit a first vehicle parked in a parking space of the parking space, detect whether a second vehicle is entering the space required by the user to enter or exit the first vehicle, and, in response to the second vehicle entering the space required by the user to enter or exit the first vehicle, visually alert a driver of the second vehicle regarding the space required by the user to enter or exit the first vehicle.

[0020] In other features, the control module is configured to visually alert the driver of the second vehicle by at least one of activating an exterior light of the first vehicle adjacent to the entering second vehicle and displaying a message on the ground between the first vehicle and the entering second vehicle.

[0021] In other features, the control module is configured to visually alert the driver of the second vehicle by illuminating an area on the floor corresponding to the space required by the user to enter or exit the first vehicle in a first color and displaying a first message on the illuminated area.

[0022] In other features, the control module is configured to determine whether the second vehicle has entered the space required by the user to board or exit the first vehicle, and in response to the second vehicle being in the space required by the user to board or exit the first vehicle, illuminate the area on the floor in a second color different from the first color and display a second message different from the first message on the illuminated area.

[0023] In other features, the control module is configured to determine whether the second vehicle has entered the space required by the user to board or exit the first vehicle, and in response to the second vehicle not being in the space required by the user to board or exit the first vehicle, display a thank you message on the floor.

[0024] Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description, claims, and drawings. The detailed description and specific examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The present disclosure will be more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a functional block diagram of an exemplary vehicle system for assisting a user in a parking lot according to the present disclosure; Fig. 2 is a bird's eye view of a vehicle with various visual indicators around the vehicle indicating whether there is sufficient or insufficient space for a user, according to the present disclosure; Fig. 3 is a bird's eye view of a vehicle with various visual indicators around the vehicle indicating whether there is sufficient or insufficient space and detected hazards for a user, according to the present disclosure; Fig. 4 is a view of a display module showing a map with visual projections of user-based ratings of various parking spaces according to the present disclosure; Fig. 5 illustrates a bird's-eye view of a parked vehicle and another vehicle entering an adjacent parking space, with various optional visual indicators provided to inform a driver of the approaching vehicle that a user of the parked vehicle requires additional room to enter or exit the vehicle, in accordance with the present disclosure; Fig. 6 a bird's eye view of the parked vehicle and the approaching vehicle Fig. 5, wherein the approaching vehicle encroaches upon the required additional space for the occupant of the parked vehicle and various optional visual indicators are provided to inform the driver of the encroachment, in accordance with the present disclosure; Fig. 7 a bird's eye view of the parked vehicle and the approaching vehicle Fig. 6, wherein the driver of the approaching vehicle has changed the direction of travel of the vehicle to avoid the required additional space for the occupant of the parked vehicle, and various optional visual indicators are provided to inform the driver that sufficient space is being provided, in accordance with the present disclosure; Fig. 8 a bird's eye view of the vehicles Fig. 7, wherein the approaching vehicle has now parked in the adjacent parking space and various optional visual indicators with a thank you message are provided to the driver of the vehicle parked in the adjacent parking space, in accordance with the present disclosure; Fig. 9 is a flowchart of an exemplary control process for determining a minimum required dimension of a user-specified safety zone in accordance with the present disclosure; Fig. 10 is a flowchart of another exemplary control process for determining a minimum required dimension of a user-specified safety zone in accordance with the present disclosure; Fig. 11 is a flowchart of an exemplary control process for assisting a user in determining suitable parking spaces in a parking lot and exiting a vehicle in accordance with the present disclosure; Fig. 12 is a flowchart of an exemplary control process for assisting a user in boarding a vehicle when the vehicle is parked in a parking space, according to the present disclosure; and Fig. 13 is a flowchart of an exemplary control process for communicating with users of other vehicles about additional space requirements of a user associated with a parked vehicle in a parking lot, according to the present disclosure.

[0026] Reference numerals may be reused in the drawings to identify similar and / or identical elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Vehicles may include driver assistance systems that assist the driver with driving and parking. For example, the driver assistance systems may assist the driver when entering and exiting parking spaces and / or enable autonomous control functions. In such examples, the systems may detect objects, display rear and front views of the vehicle, etc., as the vehicle enters the parking space. Although the driver assistance systems may actively assist with parking the vehicle, users (e.g., drivers and / or passengers with mobility impairments, etc.) need assistance with other parking-related functions. Such functions include, for example, the ability to find available parking spaces that meet the user's needs, provide vehicle assistance in tight parking spaces (e.g.,planned and in real time), prepare users for arrival at a final location, protect users when boarding and disembarking from the vehicle, etc.

[0028] The systems and methods according to the present disclosure provide technical solutions for assisting a vehicle user, such as a user with mobility limitations. Such user assistance includes, for example, identifying suitable parking spaces that provide the necessary space to smoothly enter and exit a vehicle, creating a safety space or zone around the vehicle to enable the user to safely enter and exit a vehicle by leaving sufficient room to open the doors and highlighting potential hazards in the user's path, and communicating the user's additional space needs to users of other approaching vehicles. These user assistance features enhance the user experience by facilitating safe exit and entry of vehicles.

[0029] With reference now to Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of an exemplary vehicle system 100 for assisting a user in a parking lot. The vehicle system 100 of Fig. 1 may be deployed in any suitable vehicle, such as an electric vehicle (e.g., a pure electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, etc.), a vehicle with an internal combustion engine, etc. Furthermore, the vehicle system 100 may be deployed in an autonomous vehicle, a semi-autonomous vehicle, or a non-autonomous vehicle.

[0030] As in Fig. 1, the vehicle system 100 generally includes a control module 102, a sensing module 104 communicatively connected to the control module 102, and one or more optional modules and sensors communicatively connected to the control module 102. The optional modules may include, for example, a display module 106, a steering control module 108, and a lighting control module 110, and the optional sensors may include one or more occupancy sensors 112, as in the example of Fig. 1. Although Fig. 1 illustrates the vehicle system 100 with certain modules and sensors, it should be understood that one or more other modules and / or sensors may be used as desired. Furthermore, although the vehicle system 100 is shown with multiple separate modules (e.g., the control module 102, the steering control module 108, the lighting control module 110, etc.), any combination of the modules and / or their functions may be integrated into one or more modules.

[0031] The modules and sensors of vehicle system 100 can exchange parameters via a network 114, such as a CAN (Controller Area Network or Car Area Network). In such examples, the parameters can be shared via one or more data buses of network 114. Thus, different parameters from a particular module and / or sensor can be made available to other modules and / or sensors via network 114.

[0032] In various embodiments, the sensing module 104 may generally receive data about a parking space in which the vehicle with the vehicle system 100 is traveling or parked. For example, the sensing module 104 collects such data as the vehicle travels through and / or along the parking space, as the vehicle is parked in the parking space, etc. The collected data may be used by other modules, such as the control module 102, as further explained below. The collected data may be used, for example, to generate coarse- and / or fine-grained maps. With such mapping, the control module 102 may be able to detect available parking spaces in the parking space, determine the dimensions of parking spaces, detect hazards in the parking space, etc. Furthermore, the collected data may be used to detect approaching vehicles, approaching vehicle occupants, etc.

[0033] The detection module 104 may include one or more detection devices, as in the example of Fig. 1. For example, the sensing module 104 may include one or more sensors 116 and / or one or more cameras 118 mounted outside and / or inside the vehicle. In such examples, the sensors may include any suitable sensor type, such as radar sensors, lidar sensors, ultrasonic sensors, 3D sensors, etc. The sensors may be short-range sensors (e.g., short-range radar (SRR) sensors, etc.) and / or long-range sensors (e.g., long-range radar (LRR) sensors, etc.). In some examples, the cameras may include a front camera, a rear camera, a left-facing camera, and a right-facing camera (relative to the vehicle). With such sensing devices, the sensing module 104 may collect data to provide a virtual bird's-eye view of the vehicle on the display module 106.

[0034] The steering control module 108 controls the steering / turning of the vehicle's wheels, for example, based on rotation of a steering wheel in the vehicle by the driver and / or steering commands from one or more vehicle control modules. For example, the steering control module 108 may autonomously and / or semi-autonomously control the turning of the vehicle's wheels based on one or more signals from the control module 102 and / or other sensors. In some examples, a steering wheel angle (SWA) sensor may monitor a rotational position, movement, etc., of the steering wheel and generate an SWA signal based on the position, movement, etc. of the steering wheel. The generated SWA signal is then provided to the steering control module 108 and / or the control module 102.

[0035] In Fig. 1, the display module 106 may display, among other things, a representation of the data collected by the sensing module 104 (e.g., a virtual bird's-eye view of the vehicle, hazards, messages, etc.), alerts to notify one or more users (e.g., driver and / or passengers) of detected hazards, insufficient access space, etc., as further explained below. In various embodiments, the display module 106 may include an interactive user display of an entertainment center near the driver, a user device (e.g., a mobile phone, a tablet, etc.) in communication with the control module 102 in the vehicle (via the network 114), etc.

[0036] The lighting control module 110 controls the illumination of one or more lights 120. For example, the lights 120 can be controlled to flash, change color, display messages on the floor, project a carpet of light onto the floor, etc. In such examples, the lights 120 can effectively warn and / or notify users of the vehicle regarding detected hazards, insufficient access space, sufficient access space, and / or drivers of other vehicles regarding special needs of users associated with the vehicle. In some examples, the one or more lights 120 can each comprise a single controllable LED (or other suitable light source) or a collection of controllable LEDs (or other suitable light sources).

[0037] Occupancy sensors 112 are used to detect user occupancy of the vehicle. Occupancy sensors 112 may include an interior camera, a radar sensor, a seat pressure sensor, a door opening sensor, etc. In such examples, any of the sensors may receive data indicating that a user is located in a particular area, seat, etc. of the vehicle. For example, a seat pressure sensor in the driver's seat may indicate that a driver is sitting in that seat. Additionally, a camera (e.g., located in the steering column, on the interactive user display, etc.) may indicate the presence of the driver in the driver's seat and the occupants in the front passenger seat and rear seats.

[0038] In various embodiments, the vehicle system 100 may be comprised of Fig. 1 to assist users when exiting and / or entering the vehicle. For example, the control module 102 may determine a size of space required by a particular user when exiting and / or entering the vehicle. This space defines a safe zone around at least a portion of the vehicle that allows the user to exit and / or enter the vehicle safely and easily. In such examples, the size of the required space may be determined based on a minimum required dimension that is user-specific, safety clearances / distances from other vehicles (e.g., to the right and left of the vehicle), etc. The minimum required dimension and / or the safety clearances / distances may be received by the control module 102 (e.g., user-defined widths) and / or determined by the control module 102.

[0039] For example, the control module 102 may determine the minimum required dimension based on various parameters. The minimum required dimension may be determined, for example, based on the dimensions of the vehicle, including the factory dimensions and / or the dimensions for modified features of the vehicle. This information may be input to and stored in a memory circuit associated with the vehicle system 100. For example, if the vehicle has been modified to include a ramp, a gull-wing door, etc., to accommodate users with mobility limitations, the dimensions for the modified features may be provided (e.g., by the user, a technician installing the features, etc.).

[0040] Additionally, the minimum required dimension can be determined based on user-defined dimensions. For example, a vehicle user may specify additional space requirements beyond the factory and / or modified vehicle dimensions. In such examples, the user may prefer an additional buffer (e.g., two feet, three feet, etc.) to allow for easy entry and / or exit from the vehicle.

[0041] In some examples, the minimum required dimension may be determined based on suggested dimensions. For example, if the user utilizes a user-assistance device (e.g., a wheelchair, walker, ramp, lift, etc.), the characteristics of the device (e.g., width, turning radius, etc.) may be known to or provided to the control module 102. In such examples, the control module 102 may suggest dimensions that allow sufficient room for the user to safely operate the user-assistance device when entering and / or exiting the vehicle.

[0042] Furthermore, the control module 102 may determine the minimum required dimension based on detected dimensions of the user assistance device. In such examples, the control module 102 may receive data related to the user assistance device, such as data from the acquisition module 104, an external source (e.g., a server communicatively coupled to the system 100), etc., representing characteristics (e.g., a width, a turning radius, etc.) of the device. In other examples, the control module 102 may detect a particular model of the user assistance device (e.g., based on data from the acquisition module 104, user input, etc.) and retrieve characteristics from an external source to determine the dimensions of the user assistance device.

[0043] In various embodiments, the control module 102 detects whether a free parking space is available in the parking lot. This may be the case when the system 100 is assisting the user in exiting the vehicle. For example, the control module 102 may use the data received from the detection module 104 to detect available parking spaces. Such detection may be achieved through coarse-grained mapping that provides an overview of the parking lot.

[0044] The control module 102 then determines whether the detected available parking space provides sufficient space for the user. For example, once a parking space is identified, the control module 102 may determine the width, length, etc. of the space, for example, through coarse-grained mapping. For example, based on the data received from the detection module 104, the control module 102 may identify boundaries (e.g., left and right boundary lines) of a space and then calculate the width, length, etc. of the space. Furthermore, based on the data received from the detection module 104, the control module 102 may consider neighboring parking spaces and whether there are any vehicles (if any) in the parking spaces near the adjacent boundaries of the identified available parking space. With this information about the identified parking space and its surroundings, the control module 102 may determine an available space (e.g.,a width) next to the vehicle when the vehicle is parked in the parking space. The control module 102 can then compare this available space with the user's space requirements to determine whether the detected available parking space provides sufficient space for the user.

[0045] Next, the control module 102 determines and optimizes a parking orientation of the vehicle relative to a boundary of the available parking space if the available parking space provides sufficient room for the user. In doing so, the control module 102 determines an optimal position of the vehicle when the vehicle is in the parking space. For example, a user exiting a rear passenger door (e.g., via a ramp) is better assisted if the vehicle is positioned closer to a driver-side boundary of the parking space.

[0046] The control module 102 may take into account the determined space requirements of the user, the available space near the vehicle, the user's position in the vehicle, etc. For example, the control module 102 may detect occupancy of the vehicle by the user based on data from one or more occupancy sensors 112. The control module 102 may create an occupancy map that identifies positions (e.g., seats) in the vehicle occupied by people. The control module 102 may then optimize the parking orientation relative to a boundary of the available parking space based on the position of the people. For example, a user sitting in the driver's seat and wishing to exit from the driver's door will be better assisted (e.g., by providing more space) if the vehicle is positioned closer to a passenger-side boundary of the parking space.

[0047] The control module 102 may then control the vehicle to enter the available parking space based on the determined parking orientation. Once the parking orientation has been determined, the control module 102 may, for example, send a control signal to the steering control module 108. The steering control module 108, in turn, may autonomously and / or semi-autonomously control wheel turning based on the control signal to steer the vehicle to its optimal position in the parking space. In such examples, the additional autonomous control (e.g., acceleration, braking, etc.) may be based on data from the sensing module 104. In other examples, the control module 102 may communicate the optimal position in the parking space to the driver via the display module 106 based on the determined parking orientation. The driver, in turn, may manually control the vehicle to enter the available parking space based on the parking orientation.

[0048] In various embodiments, vehicle users may be warned of potential problems and / or hazards when parking and / or exiting the vehicle. For example, in response to the available parking space not providing sufficient room for the user, the control module 102 may activate a warning to the user. For example, the control module 102 may trigger an audible signal through one or more vehicle speakers indicating insufficient space. Additionally and / or alternatively, the control module 102 may trigger a haptic signal that the driver may perceive. For example, the steering wheel or driver's seat may vibrate to indicate insufficient space. In addition, the control module 102 may trigger a visual warning signal to inform the driver. The visual warning may include, for example, flashing interior and / or exterior lights, displaying a warning on the display module 106, etc.For example, the display module 106 may display a red, flashing area along one side of the vehicle (e.g., in a bird's eye view, etc.).

[0049] For example, Fig. 2 a vehicle 200 from a bird's eye view with various visual indicators around the vehicle 200. In the example from Fig. 2, the areas to the right and rear of the vehicle are clear (e.g., have sufficient space), as indicated by visual indicators 202, 204. However, the area to the left of the vehicle does not provide sufficient space for the user, as indicated by a visual indicator 206. In such examples, visual indicators 202, 204 may be displayed in green to indicate that there is sufficient space for the user, and indicator 206 may be displayed in red to indicate that there is insufficient space for the user.

[0050] With continued reference to Fig. 1, the control module 102 can trigger an alert when a hazard is present near the available parking space. For example, the control module 102 can use the data received from the detection module 104 to detect a hazard near the available parking space. This hazard detection can be achieved through fine-grained mapping that provides a detailed view of the parking space. More specifically, the control module 102 can locate and identify a particular hazard (e.g., an obstacle such as a pothole, crack, bump, puddle, object on the ground, etc.) within the parking space and / or near the parking space through fine-grained mapping. The control module 102 then warns the user of the detected hazard through one or more visual or audible warnings, etc.

[0051] The control module 102 may warn the user of the detected hazard by displaying a warning for the detected hazard on the display module 106. For example, Fig. 3 the vehicle 200 from a bird's eye view with visual indicators around the vehicle 200. In Fig. 3, the areas to the left and rear of the vehicle are clear (e.g., have sufficient space and no detected hazards), as indicated by visual indicators 304, 306. However, the area to the right of the vehicle is indicated by visual indicators 302, 308, 310 as having a detected hazard. In such examples, visual indicator 302 may be displayed in red, visual indicator 308 represents a virtual hazard sign, and visual indicator 310 identifies the hazard (e.g., a virtual banana peel).

[0052] In other examples, the control module 102 may be Fig. 1 may additionally and / or alternatively warn the user of the detected hazard by illuminating the detected hazard. For example, once the hazard is detected, the control module 102 may send a control signal to the lighting control module 110, causing the one or more luminaires 120 to illuminate (e.g., illuminate, highlight, etc.) the detected hazard.

[0053] In various embodiments, users may be informed about various features and / or ratings associated with various parking spaces. This information may be used by users when planning their parking options. For example, control module 102 may receive data indicating user-based ratings of parking spaces and one or more characteristics of the parking spaces. In such examples, the data may be provided from an external database storing feedback from other users. Control module 102 may then display the user-based ratings and the characteristics of the parking spaces (e.g., on display module 106, such as an interactive user display in the vehicle, a user device, etc.). Using this information, the driver and / or another user in the vehicle can determine which parking spaces are most suitable.For example, the information may indicate whether a parking space is large enough, wheelchair accessible (e.g., with a wheelchair ramp, no curbs, etc.), free of hazards (e.g., no potholes, mud, banana peels, etc.), near a wheelchair-accessible restroom, near an elevator in a building, etc.

[0054] Fig. For example, Figure 4 shows an example view of the display module 106, and more specifically, an interactive user display in the vehicle. As shown, the display module 106 displays a map 402 with visual projections 404, 406 of user-based ratings of various parking spaces. In particular, the parking space associated with projection 404 has received a one-star rating, while the parking space associated with projection 406 has received a five-star rating. Although in Fig. 4, map 402 may also display messages about parking space characteristics. For example, a message associated with projection 404 may indicate that the parking space is two feet too narrow for the user's vehicle and that there is no suitable restroom nearby. In other examples, a message associated with projection 406 may indicate that the parking space is large, has no curbs, and has a restroom nearby.

[0055] As mentioned above, the vehicle system 100 may Fig. 1 assist users in entering their parked vehicle(s). In doing so, the vehicle system 100 may generally inform a user approaching the vehicle about sufficient / insufficient space to enter the vehicle, potential hazards in the vehicle's surroundings, etc. For example, the control module 102 may detect whether the user is approaching the vehicle parked in a parking space of the parking lot. When the user approaches the vehicle (e.g., is within a certain distance), the control module 102 may receive a signal indicating that a remote key fob, a user's phone, etc., is nearby. Once the approaching user is detected, the control module 102 may determine the user's space requirements and the available space adjacent to the vehicle, as explained above.The control module 102 then compares the space requirement with the available space to determine if there is enough room for the user to enter the vehicle.

[0056] If there is insufficient space available, the control module 102 warns the user that there is insufficient room to enter the vehicle. For example, if the comparison shows that the space required by the user is less than the available space adjacent to the vehicle, the control module 102 may send a control signal to the lighting control module 110, causing the one or more lights 120 to illuminate an area adjacent to the vehicle (e.g., spotlight, highlight, etc.). In such examples, the one or more lights 120 may be controlled to illuminate the area red, flash, etc.

[0057] However, if sufficient space is available, the control module 102 may prompt the user to enter the vehicle by providing a notification. For example, if the comparison shows that the space required by the user is greater than or equal to the available space adjacent to the vehicle, the control module 102 may send a control signal to the lighting control module 110, causing the one or more lights 120 to illuminate an area adjacent to the vehicle in green (e.g., spotlight, highlight, etc.).

[0058] In some examples, the approaching user may also be warned of hazards near the vehicle. For example, as previously explained, control module 102 may use the data received from detection module 104 to detect a hazard near the available parking space. Control module 102 may then warn the approaching user of the detected hazard by illuminating the hazard (e.g., by controlling lights 120, etc.), illuminating an area adjacent to the vehicle, etc., as previously explained.

[0059] In other embodiments, the vehicle system 100 communicates with users of other vehicles to alert them of the additional space required by users of the parked vehicle. For example, the control module 102 may determine the size of the required space (e.g., the safe space or safe zone around the vehicle) for the user to enter and / or exit the vehicle, as discussed above. The control module 102 may then detect whether an approaching neighboring vehicle is entering the required space. For example, the control module 102 may continuously or periodically monitor the area adjacent to the parked vehicle (e.g., based on data from the sensing module 104) to detect the approaching vehicle and its position relative to the parked vehicle, and then determine whether the approaching vehicle is entering the required space.If this is the case, the control module 102 may visually alert the driver of the approaching vehicle of the space the user needs to enter or exit the parked vehicle.

[0060] Fig. For example, Figures 5-8 show a bird's-eye view of vehicle 200 and another vehicle 500, with various visual warnings and / or messages being provided to the driver of vehicle 500. In Fig. 5, the vehicle 200 is parked in a gap 502 that is at least partially defined by boundaries 504, 506, and the vehicle 500 is approaching an adjacent gap 508 that is at least partially defined by the boundary 506 and a boundary 510. As soon as the approaching vehicle 500 is detected, the control module 102 warns Fig. 1 visually informs the driver of the vehicle 500 that a user of the vehicle 200 requires additional space to enter or exit the vehicle 200. For example, the control module 102 may turn on the exterior lighting (e.g., the lights 120 from Fig. 1) near the incoming vehicle 500, as shown by light indicators 512, 514, 516, and / or display a message, symbol, etc. on the ground between the vehicles 200, 500, as shown by a projected message 518 and projected symbols 520. In addition, the control module 102 may comprise Fig. 1, in some examples, activate the exterior lighting to highlight the required space, as indicated by the shaded area 522. In the example of Fig. 5, the highlighted area (e.g., in green color) may indicate that the approaching vehicle 500 is not within the required space.

[0061] In Fig. 6, however, the vehicle 500 enters the adjacent gap 508 and enters the space required by the user of the parked vehicle 200. In this example, the control module 102 may be Fig. 1 control the exterior lighting (e.g. shown by the light indicators 612, 614, 616) so that it flashes and shines with a higher intensity than in Fig. 5. In addition, the control module 102 may display a stronger, more intense message 618 (e.g., highlighted, in a different color, etc.) than in Fig. 5. Furthermore, the control module 102 can project various symbols 620 (e.g., an angry face, etc.) and fill the required space with a different color (as indicated by the shaded area 622) than in Fig. Highlight 5.

[0062] If the driver changes the course of the vehicle 500 to avoid the space required for the user of the parked vehicle 200, the control module 102 can Fig. 1 change the message to the driver again. In Fig. 7, for example, the vehicle 500 is no longer in the required space. In such examples, the control module 102 may Fig. 1 provide another symbol 720 (e.g. a smiley) and for projecting the message 518 and the shaded area 522 from Fig. 5. In some examples, the control module 102 may also control the exterior lights to stop flashing.

[0063] Once the vehicle 500 has been parked, the control module 102 can Fig. 1 change the message to the driver again. In Fig. For example, in Figure 8, the vehicle 500 is parked in the space 508 and the driver is leaving. In such examples, the control module 102 may Fig. 1 (e.g. via the lights 120 from Fig. 1) project a thank you message on the floor, as shown by indicator 824. In such examples, the message can be as shown in Fig. 8 may be "Thank you!" or another suitable message. The control module 102 may also display the message 518 from Fig. 5, but with an additional heart emoji. In other examples, the exterior lights may illuminate in a different color and / or the vehicle 200's speakers may be controlled to play an audible thank-you message upon request.

[0064] Fig. 9-13 illustrate exemplary control processes 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300 performed by the vehicle system 100 of Fig. 1 to assist a user in a parking lot. Although the exemplary control processes 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300 are related to the vehicle system of Fig. 1 with the control module 102, each of the control processes 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300 may be used in any suitable system.

[0065] In Fig. 9, the control process 900 is usable to determine a minimum required dimension of a user-specific required space or a user-specific safety zone. As in Fig. 9, control process 900 begins at 902 where a determination is made as to whether the vehicle is modified. This determination may be made based on input provided to control module 102 and / or another suitable module, control module 102 detecting a modification to the vehicle (e.g., based on one or more vehicle sensors), etc. If no, control continues to 910 where control module 102 applies a common (e.g., standard) width associated with the unmodified vehicle when determining the minimum required dimension. Control then continues to 912. However, if the vehicle has been modified, control continues to 904.

[0066] At 904, the control module 102 receives the space requirement associated with the modified vehicle. For example, if the vehicle has been modified (e.g., including a ramp, a gull-wing door, etc.), a user, a technician installing the features, etc., may provide the dimensions of the modified features as described above. In such examples, the control module 102 may determine the space requirement based on the dimensions. In other examples, the user, the technician, etc., may specify the space requirement for the modified features. Control then continues to 906.

[0067] At 906, the control module 102 determines whether the vehicle has exterior lighting and a human machine interface (HMI) that supports the space requirements of the modified features. For example, a light carpet and / or other exterior lighting features of the vehicle are limited to a maximum display area (e.g., to highlight the safety zone). If there are space requirements for the modified features that exceed the maximum display area of ​​the light carpet, HMI, etc., these notification functions would be ineffective for the modified vehicle. If no at 906, control continues to 914, where the control module 102 disables an accessibility support feature for the vehicle. However, if the exterior lighting, HMI, etc.To support the space requirements of the modified features, control continues to 908, where the control module 102 applies an additional width associated with the space requirements for the modified vehicle when determining the minimum required dimensions. Control then continues to 912.

[0068] At 912, the control module 102 checks whether the user has a disability placard. For example, the control module 102 may verify whether the user has a disability placard by prompting the user to enter an identification number associated with the placard (e.g., a disability sticker, etc.) and then comparing that number to identification numbers for known disability placards (e.g., stored in an external database). In other examples, the user may provide input to the control module 102, such as an affirmative input, in response to a displayed prompt. If the disability placard is affirmed, control continues to 916. If not, control continues to 914, where the control module 102 disables the accessibility assistance feature for the vehicle.

[0069] At 916, the control module 102 may receive additional user-specified space requirements for the vehicle. For example, the user may specify additional space requirements beyond the factory and / or modified vehicle dimensions. In such examples, the user may prefer an additional buffer to allow easy entry and / or exit of the vehicle. In other examples, the additional space requirements may be suggested by the control module 102, as explained herein. Control then continues to 918.

[0070] At 918, the control module 102 determines the minimum required dimension of a user-specified required space or user-specified safety zone. The determination may be made based on the width associated with the vehicle (or modified vehicle), any additional space requirements, etc. Control then ends.

[0071] The tax process 1000 from Fig. 10 is used to determine a minimum required dimension of a user-specific required space or user-specific safety zone. Control process 1000 is equal to control process 900. Fig. 9, but with additional optional control functions. For example, the control process 1000 includes Fig. 10 the steps 902, 904, 906, 908, 910, 912, 914 as described above with respect to the control process 900 of Fig. 9 were explained.

[0072] If the disability certificate is confirmed at 912 (as explained above), control continues to 1020. At 1020, a determination is made as to whether the user prefers that the vehicle determine additional user-specific space requirements. For example, the user may provide input to the control module 102 (e.g., during setup of the accessibility assistance feature, etc.) indicating that the system should determine this additional user-specific space requirement. If No at 1020, control continues to 1022, where the control module 102 receives additional user-specific space requirements, as described above with respect to step 916. Fig. 9. Otherwise, if the user prefers that the vehicle determine additional space requirements, control proceeds to 1024.

[0073] At 1024, the control module 102 determines additional user-specific space requirements for the vehicle. For example, the control module 102 may determine the width of a user-assistance device (e.g., a wheelchair, walker, ramp, lift, etc.), as discussed above. Control then continues to 1026, where the control module 102 determines the minimum required dimension of a user-specific required space or user-specific safety zone, as discussed above. The determination may be made based, for example, on the width associated with the vehicle (or modified vehicle), any additional space requirements (e.g., determined, provided by the user, etc.), etc. Control then ends.

[0074] In Fig. 11, the control process 1100 can be used to assist the user in finding suitable parking spaces in a parking lot and in exiting the vehicle. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 11, control process 1100 begins at 1102, where control module 102 receives parking space data and vehicle occupancy data, for example, from sensing module 104 and one or more occupancy sensors 112, as explained herein. Control then continues at 1104, 1106, 1108.

[0075] At 1104, the control module 102 detects the occupancy of the vehicle by the user (and other users) based on the vehicle occupancy data to identify a position of each user in the vehicle, as explained herein. At 1104, the control module 102 detects an available parking space in the parking lot, and at 1106, the control module 102 determines the dimensions of the available parking space based on the parking space data, as explained herein. Control then continues at 1110, 1112.

[0076] At 1110, the control module 102 receives the minimum required dimension associated with a user-specific required space or a user-specific safety zone, as explained herein. In some examples, the minimum required dimension may be determined as above with respect to the control processes 900, 1000 from Fig. 9-10. Next, at 1112, the control module 102 determines the space (e.g., the safety zone) required by the user to exit the vehicle. In some examples, the determined space may be equal to the minimum required dimension. In other examples, the determined space may be greater than the minimum required dimension. For example, the control module 102 may add a buffer (e.g., based on safety margins) to the minimum required dimension. Control then continues at 1114.

[0077] At 1114, the control module 102 determines whether the available parking space provides sufficient room for the user. For example, the control module 102 may compare a size of the available space in the parking space (e.g., based on the dimensions of the available parking space, neighboring parking spaces, and whether the vehicles in those spaces are near the adjacent boundaries of the identified available parking space, etc.) with the space required by the user (the safety zone) to determine whether the detected available parking space provides sufficient room for the user. If No at 1114, control continues to 1120, where the control module 102 may enable a warning to the user to inform them of the insufficient space, as explained herein. Control may then act as in Fig. 11 or return to another suitable step, such as 1102, if desired.

[0078] However, if sufficient space is available at 1114, control continues at 1116, 1118. At 1116, the control module 102 optimizes a parking orientation of the vehicle relative to a boundary of the available parking space, as described herein. Then, at 1118, the vehicle enters the available parking space based on the parking orientation. In various embodiments, the vehicle may be manually, autonomously, etc., controlled to enter the available parking space, as described herein. Control then continues at 1122.

[0079] At 1122, the control module 102 detects whether a hazard is present near the available parking space based on the parking space data from the detection module 104, as explained herein. If not, the controller may, as described in Fig. 11. If so, control proceeds to 1124, where control module 102 may activate a warning to the user to inform them of the hazard, as explained herein. Control may then end.

[0080] The tax process 1200 from Fig. 12 can be used to assist the user in getting into the vehicle when it is parked in a parking lot. As in Fig. 12, control process 1200 begins at 1202, where control module 102 receives parking space data from, for example, sensing module 104, as explained herein. Control then continues at 1204.

[0081] At 1204, the control module 102 detects that the user is approaching the vehicle. For example, the control module 102 may detect the approaching user based on a received signal from a remote key fob, a user's phone, etc., as discussed above. Control then continues with 1206, 1208, 1210.

[0082] At 1206, the control module 102 determines the space available in the parking space for the user to enter the vehicle. As explained herein, this determination may be made based on the dimensions of the available parking space, neighboring parking spaces, whether the vehicles in those spaces are near the adjacent boundaries of the identified available parking space, etc. At 1208, the control module 102 receives a minimum required dimension associated with a user-specified required space or a user-specified safety zone, as explained herein. Next, at 1210, the control module 102 determines the space required by the user to enter the vehicle. For example, the determined space may be equal to the minimum required dimension or, as explained herein, greater than the minimum required dimension. Control then continues at 1212.

[0083] At 1212, the control module 102 detects whether a hazard is present near the available parking space based on the parking space data from the detection module 104, as explained herein. If no, control continues to 1216. If yes, control continues to 1214, where the control module 102 may enable a warning to the user to inform them of the hazard, as explained herein. Control then continues to 1216.

[0084] At 1216, the control module 102 determines whether the available parking space provides sufficient room for the user. For example, the control module 102 may compare the available space in the parking space to the space needed for the user to enter the vehicle to determine whether the available parking space provides sufficient room for the user. If No at 1216, control continues to 1220, where the control module 102 may illuminate an area adjacent to the vehicle (e.g., in red or another suitable color) to warn the user of the insufficient space, as explained herein. Control then continues to 1222. However, if the available parking space provides sufficient room for the user, control continues to 1218, where the control module 102 may illuminate an area adjacent to the vehicle (e.g.,in green or another suitable color) to inform the user of sufficient space, as explained in this document. The control then proceeds to 1222.

[0085] At 1222, the vehicle is switched on and out of park mode by control to leave the parking space. For example, the vehicle may be manually controlled by the user to switch on the vehicle and then switch out of park mode and back (or drive). In other examples, the vehicle may be autonomously controlled to switch on and then switch out of park mode and back (or drive). Control may then be as in Fig. 12 shown end.

[0086] In Fig. 13, the control process 1300 is usable for communicating with users of other vehicles to alert them to the additional space requirements of a user associated with a parked vehicle. As shown in Fig. 13, control process 1300 begins at 1302, where control module 102 receives parking space data from sensing module 104, as explained herein. Control then continues at 1304.

[0087] At 1304, the control module 102 determines whether a neighboring vehicle is present. For example, based on the parking space data, the control module 102 may detect a vehicle in a parking space adjacent to the parked vehicle. If so, control may return to 1304, as shown in Fig. 13. Otherwise, if no adjacent vehicle is present at 1304, control continues to 1306, where the control module 102 monitors vehicle traffic near the parked vehicle based on the parking space data (e.g., continuously or periodically). Control then continues to 1308.

[0088] At 1308, the control module 102 determines whether a vehicle is entering the space required by the user (e.g., the safety space or the safety zone around the vehicle). As explained above, the user's space requirement is based on a certain minimum required dimension. If No at 1308, control may return to 1304, as in Fig. 13. However, if the vehicle enters the required space, control continues with 1310.

[0089] At 1310, the control module 102 determines whether a sufficient low-light condition exists. For example, the control module 102 may determine whether the vehicle's surroundings indicate that the brightness in the vehicle's surroundings is appropriate for various warnings (e.g., with different colors, etc.). This determination may be made based on parking space data from the sensing module 104 (e.g., one or more visibility sensors of the sensing module 104). If No at 1310, control continues to 1312. Otherwise, if the low-light condition exists, control continues to 1316.

[0090] At 1312, the control module 102 may activate one or more exterior lights of the parked vehicle. In such examples, the control module 102 may flash the cornering and / or sidelights of the parked vehicle adjacent to the entering vehicle to alert the driver of the entering vehicle. Control then continues to 1314.

[0091] At 1314, the control module 102 may control one or more lights (e.g., via the lighting control module 110 and the lights 120 from Fig. 1) to display a message to the driver of the entering vehicle, alerting them to the additional space required by the user associated with the parked vehicle. The message may include, for example, "Please keep more space" and a wheelchair icon. In some examples, the control module 102 may control the lights to display the message only when an exterior display is available for the parked vehicle. The control may then be as in Fig. 13 or return to another suitable step, such as step 1306, if desired.

[0092] At 1316, the control module 102 may control one or more lights (e.g., via the lighting control module 110 and the lights 120 from Fig. 1) to display a first visual warning on the floor to the driver of the entering vehicle, alerting them to the additional space required by the user associated with the parked vehicle. For example, the control module 102 may visually warn the driver by illuminating an area on the floor corresponding to the space required by the user to enter or exit the parked vehicle in a first color (e.g., orange, etc.) and displaying a first message (e.g., a smiley face, a neutral face, etc.) on the illuminated area. In one example, the first visual warning may consist of first highlighting the required space (e.g., the safety space) with flashing exterior or underbody lights, and then highlighting the required space with a solid color and projecting an overlay containing a smiley face and a wheelchair icon in the highlighted color.Based on this visual warning, the driver of the entering vehicle may decide to reposition their vehicle (e.g., further away from the parked vehicle, in another free parking space, etc.). The controller then proceeds to step 1320.

[0093] At 1320, the control module 102 determines, based on the parking space data from the sensing module 104, that the approaching vehicle has entered the required space. If so, control continues to 1322, where the control module 102 may control one or more lights (e.g., via the lighting control module 110 and the lights 120 from Fig. 1) to project a second visual warning onto the ground. For example, the control module 102 may visually warn the driver by illuminating the area on the ground in a second color (e.g., red, etc.) and displaying a second message (e.g., a sad face, etc.) on the illuminated area. The controller may then, as in Fig. 13 or return to another suitable step, such as step 1306, if desired.

[0094] However, if the approaching vehicle has not entered the required space at 1320, control continues to 1324, where the control module 102 determines whether the vehicle is parked based on the parking space data from the sensing module 104. If not, control returns to 1316. However, if the approaching vehicle is parked, control continues to 1326, where the control module 102 may control one or more lights (e.g., via the lighting control module 110 and the lights 120 from Fig. 1) to display a thank you message on the floor. The message can include, for example, "Thank you." The control can then be as in Fig. 13 or return to another suitable step, such as step 1306, if desired.

[0095] The foregoing description is merely illustrative and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses. The broad teachings of the disclosure may be embodied in a variety of forms. While this disclosure contains particular examples, the true scope of the disclosure should not be considered so limited, since other modifications will become apparent upon a study of the drawings, the specification, and the following claims. It is understood that one or more steps within a method may be performed in different orders (or simultaneously) without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.Although each of the embodiments described above includes certain features, one or more of these features described with respect to any embodiment of the disclosure may be implemented in any other embodiment and / or combined with features of any other embodiment, even if that combination is not explicitly described. In other words, the described embodiments are not mutually exclusive, and combinations of one or more embodiments remain within the scope of this disclosure.

[0096] Spatial and functional relationships between elements (e.g., between modules, circuit elements, semiconductor layers, etc.) are described using various terms, including "connected," "engaged," "coupled," "adjacent," "beside," "on," "over," "below," and "disposed." When a relationship between a first and a second element is not explicitly described as "direct" in the above disclosure, that relationship may be a direct relationship, with no other intervening elements present between the first and second elements, but may also be an indirect relationship, with one or more intervening elements (either spatial or functional) present between the first and second elements.As used herein, the phrase “A, B, and / or C” should be construed as logical (A ORed with B ORed with C) using a non-exclusive logical OR, rather than as “at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C.”

[0097] In the figures, the direction of an arrow, as indicated by the arrowhead, generally indicates the flow of information (such as data or instructions) of interest for the illustration. For example, if element A and element B exchange a lot of information, but the information communicated from element A to element B is relevant for the illustration, the arrow may point from element A to element B. This unidirectional arrow does not imply that no other information is communicated from element B to element A. Further, when communicating information from element A to element B, element B may send requests or acknowledgments for the information to element A.

[0098] In this application, including the definitions below, the term "module" or the term "controller" may be replaced by the term "circuit". The term "module" may refer to, be part of, or include: an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC); a digital, analog, or mixed analog / digital discrete circuit; a digital, analog, or mixed analog / digital integrated circuit; a combinational logic circuit; a field-programmable gate array (FPGA); a (shared, dedicated, or grouped) processor circuit that executes code; a (shared, dedicated, or grouped) memory circuit that stores code executed by the processor circuit; other suitable hardware components that provide the described functions; or a combination of some or all of the above components, such as in a system-on-chip.

[0099] The module may include one or more interface circuits. In some examples, the interface circuits may include wired or wireless interfaces connected to a local area network (LAN), the Internet, a wide area network (WAN), or combinations thereof. The functions of any module of the present disclosure may be distributed among multiple modules connected via interface circuits. For example, multiple modules may enable load balancing. In another example, a server module (also known as a remote or cloud module) may perform some functions on behalf of a client module.

[0100] The term code, as used above, may include software, firmware, and / or microcode and may refer to programs, routines, functions, classes, data structures, and / or objects. The term "common processor circuitry" includes a single processor circuitry that executes some or all of the code from multiple modules. The term "grouped processor circuitry" includes a processor circuitry that, in combination with other processor circuitry, executes some or all of the code from one or more modules. Reference to multiple processor circuits includes multiple processor circuits on individual chips, multiple processor circuits on a single chip, multiple cores of a single processor circuitry, multiple threads of a single processor circuitry, or a combination of the foregoing.The term "shared memory circuit" includes a single memory circuit that stores some or all of the code from multiple modules. The term "group memory circuit" includes a memory circuit that, in combination with additional memories, stores some or all of the code from one or more modules.

[0101] The term "memory circuit" is a subset of the term "computer-readable medium." As used in this document, the term "computer-readable medium" does not include transitory electrical or electromagnetic signals propagated through a medium (such as a carrier wave); therefore, the term "computer-readable medium" can be considered tangible and non-transitory. Non-limiting examples of a non-transitory, tangible, computer-readable medium include non-volatile memory circuits (such as a flash memory circuit, an erasable programmable read-only memory circuit, or a mask read-only memory circuit), volatile memory circuits (such as a static random access memory circuit or a dynamic random access memory circuit), magnetic storage media (such as an analog or digital magnetic tape or a hard disk drive), and optical storage media (such as a CD, a DVD, or a Blu-ray Disc).

[0102] The devices and methods described in this application may be implemented, in part or in whole, by a special-purpose computer created by configuring a general-purpose computer to perform one or more specific functions embodied in computer programs. The functional blocks, flowchart components, and other elements described above serve as software specifications that can be translated into computer programs through the routine work of a skilled technician or programmer.

[0103] The computer programs include processor-executable instructions stored on at least one non-transitory, tangible, computer-readable medium. The computer programs may also include or rely on stored data. The computer programs may include a basic input / output system (BIOS) that interacts with the hardware of the special-purpose computer, device drivers that interact with specific devices of the special-purpose computer, one or more operating systems, user applications, background services, background applications, etc.

[0104] The computer programs may comprise: (i) descriptive text to be parsed, such as HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), XML (Extensible Markup Language) or JSON (JavaScript Object Notation), (ii) assembly code, (iii) object code generated from the source code by a compiler, (iv) source code for execution by an interpreter, (v) source code for compilation and execution by a just-in-time compiler, etc. By way of example only, source code may be written using the syntax of languages ​​including C, C++, C#, Objective-C, Swift, Haskell, Go, SQL, R, Lisp, Java®, Fortran, Perl, Pascal, Curl, OCaml, Javascript®, HTML5 (Hypertext Markup Language 5th Revision), Ada, ASP (Active Server Pages), PHP (PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor), Scala, Eiffel, Smalltalk, Erlang, Ruby, Flash®, Visual Basic®, Lua, MATLAB, SIMULINK and Python®.

Claims

[1] A vehicle system for assisting a user in a parking lot, the vehicle system comprising: a detection module configured to receive data relating to the parking space; and a control module in communication with the acquisition module, the control module being configured to: to determine, based on the data received from the detection module, whether there is an available parking space in the parking lot; to determine the size of the space required by the user when exiting the vehicle; to determine, based on the specific size of the required space, whether the available parking space provides sufficient space for the user; and in response to determining that the available parking space provides sufficient space for the user, optimize a parking orientation of the vehicle relative to at least one boundary of the available parking space based on the space required by the user. [2] The system of claim 1, wherein the control module is configured: to record the occupancy of the vehicle by the user; and to optimize the parking orientation of the vehicle relative to at least one boundary of the available parking space based on the space required by the user and the user's occupancy. [3] The system of claim 1, wherein the control module is configured: to determine, based on the data received from the detection module, whether a hazard is present near the available parking space; and to warn the user of the detected hazard. [4] The system of claim 1, wherein the control module is configured to activate a warning to the user in response to the available parking space not providing sufficient room for the user. [5] The system of claim 1, wherein the control module is configured: receive data indicating a user-based rating of the parking space and one or more characteristics of the parking space; and display the user-based rating and the one or more characteristics of the parking space on a display module. [6] A vehicle system for assisting a user in a parking lot, the vehicle system comprising: a detection module configured to receive data relating to the parking space; and a control module in communication with the acquisition module, the control module being configured to: to detect whether the user is approaching a vehicle parked in a parking space in the parking lot; determine an available space next to the vehicle based on the data received from the detection module; to determine the size of the space required by the user when boarding the vehicle; compare the space required by the user with the available space next to the vehicle; and In response to the space required by the user being less than the available space adjacent to the vehicle, illuminate an area adjacent to the vehicle to warn the user that there is insufficient space to enter the vehicle. [7] The system of claim 6, wherein the control module is configured, in response to the space required by the user being greater than or equal to the available space adjacent to the vehicle, to detect whether a hazard is present adjacent to the vehicle based on the data received from the detection module and to warn the user of the detected hazard. [8] The system of claim 6, wherein the control module is configured to: to receive a minimum required dimension of a user-specific security zone; and to determine the space required by the user based on the minimum required dimension. [9] A vehicle system for assisting a user in a parking lot, the vehicle system comprising: a detection module configured to receive data relating to the parking space; and a control module in communication with the acquisition module, the control module being configured to: to determine the space required by the user to enter or exit a first vehicle parked in a parking space of the parking lot; detect whether a second vehicle enters the space required by the user to enter or exit the first vehicle; and in response to the second vehicle entering the space required by the user to board or exit the first vehicle, visually warn a driver of the second vehicle of the space required to board or exit the first vehicle. [10] The system of claim 9, wherein the control module is configured to visually warn the driver of the second vehicle by at least one of activating an exterior light of the first vehicle adjacent to the entering second vehicle and displaying a message on the ground between the first vehicle and the entering second vehicle.

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