VEHICLE DRIVABLE AREA DETECTION SYSTEM

A vehicle drivable area detection system includes a vehicle, at least one 3D sensor and an electronic controller. The at least one 3D sensor is installed to the vehicle and is configured to scan and capture data using laser imaging, detection and distance ranging relative to the vehicle. The data collected represents ground surface features including vertical obstacles, non-vertical obstacles and a drivable area proximate the vehicle within a line-of-sight of the 3D sensor. The electronic controller is installed within the vehicle and is electronically connected to the 3D sensor and at least one driver assist component. The electronic controller conducts the following: a vertical obstacle extraction from the data; terrain estimating from the data; curb detection from the data; and generating a plurality of data elements identifying vertical obstacles including curbs and the drivable area to the at least one driver assist component.