When an attention-required object (an approaching object) is present within a peripheral area of a vehicle in a case where a user's door opening request operation has been detected, a control ECU of an assist apparatus performs a door opening operation restriction process to hold/keep a sliding door at a fully closed position without performing a door opening operation process for the sliding door. When the user's door opening request operation is detected after this door opening operation restriction process has been performed a predetermined number of times, the control ECU performs the door opening operation process to move the sliding door to the fully opened position even when the attention-required object is present.

System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to alerting a passenger about hazards when exiting a subject vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes identifying an initial target and a subsequent target according to sensor data about a surrounding environment of the subject vehicle. The method includes, in response to determining that the initial target satisfies an alert threshold, activating an initial alert for a defined time to inform the passenger of a hazard associated with the initial target and the passenger exiting the subject vehicle into a path of the initial target. The method includes extending the defined time responsive to the subsequent target satisfying the alert threshold and a timing threshold that defines a cool-down period between activating separate alerts.

A vehicle component has a sensor device that includes a sensor for detecting a characteristic parameter for an obstacle in the vicinity of the vehicle, for example an obstacle in a movement area of the door. The damper device can be actuated in a manner which is dependent on the parameter. A monitoring device is provided which, in order to detect a characteristic parameter for a manipulation of the vehicle, for example damage of a vehicle exterior shell or removal of a vehicle interior compartment, is operatively connected to the sensor device, in order for the latter to be interrogated.

A door opening control apparatus and a door opening control method thereof are provided. The door opening control apparatus includes a recognizer configured to recognize a surrounding obstacle based on sensor recognition information received from a plurality of sensors, a determiner configured to calculate a maximum opening angle of a door for preventing collision with the recognized surrounding obstacle and to determine a risk of collision between the door and the surrounding obstacle based on the calculated maximum opening angle, and a controller configured to control an opening angle of the door to prevent the door from colliding with the surrounding obstacle when determining that the risk of collision is present.

A vehicle component (200) has a sensor device (201) that includes a sensor (211) for detecting a characteristic parameter for an obstacle in the vicinity of the vehicle, for example an obstacle in a movement area of the door (50). The damper device (1) can be actuated in a manner which is dependent on the parameter. A monitoring device (202) is provided which, in order to detect a characteristic parameter for a manipulation of the vehicle (100), for example damage of a vehicle exterior shell or removal of a vehicle interior compartment, is operatively connected to the sensor device (201), in order for the latter to be interrogated (1).

System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to alerting a passenger about hazards when exiting a subject vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes identifying an initial target and a subsequent target according to sensor data about a surrounding environment of the subject vehicle. The method includes, in response to determining that the initial target satisfies an alert threshold, activating an initial alert for a defined time to inform the passenger of a hazard associated with the initial target and the passenger exiting the subject vehicle into a path of the initial target. The method includes extending the defined time responsive to the subsequent target satisfying the alert threshold and a timing threshold that defines a cool-down period between activating separate alerts.

A method and to a device for impinging on a motor vehicle door in the sense of a deceleration, in particular for avoiding collisions. There is at least one sensor assigned to the motor vehicle door. Furthermore, as a function of signals from the sensor, the control unit actuates the locking device for locking the motor vehicle door. The locking device applies a preferably variable braking torque to the motor vehicle door, taking into account a braking start predetermined by the control unit.

A method for damping a movement of a door system of a vehicle that is equipped with a damping system having an adjustable and controllable damping action. A movement of the door system between a closed position and an open position is damped in a controlled manner. A measurement of the change in speed of the speed of movement of the door system is calculated and if the change in speed exceeds a predefined limit value, a set, gentle damping action is changed over to a greater damping action.

Embodiments are described of an apparatus including a computer with a user interface. One or more door clearance detection (DCD) sensors are communicatively coupled to the computer and adapted to be mounted to an exterior of a vehicle door. Each vehicle door has a door impact zone such that an object in the impact zone would be struck by the door if opened, and each DCD sensor has a field of view and a range that establish a detection zone within which the DCD sensor can collect data. Each detection zone includes at least the corresponding door impact zone. Logic stored in the memory or storage includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive data from the one or more DCD sensors; determine whether there are objects in the corresponding door impact zone; and warn vehicle occupants if there are objects in the impact zones.

A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to actuate a vehicle door to an opened position and to determine a height of an object on a vehicle roof based on a distance from a sensor on the door in the opened position to a top of the object.