DOOR MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD

A door monitoring system may include an optical sensor that may generate sensor signals indicative of a field of view of the optical sensor. The field of view may include at least part of an interior vehicle floor in front of a vehicle door. The system also may include controller that receives the sensor signals and that detects a presence or absence of one or more persons and/or objects within the field of view of the optical sensor. The controller may change a speed at which the vehicle door moves based on the presence or the absence of the persons and/or objects that are detected responsive to detecting the presence or absence of the persons and/or objects.