Passive entry passive start verification with two-factor authentication

1. A method for authenticating a vehicle access signal using two independent signal verifications, the method comprising:

receiving, from a passive key device carried by a user, a first gait of the user approaching a vehicle;

determining, via a vehicle perception system onboard the vehicle, a second gait of the user;

determining that a difference between the first gait and the second gait is within an acceptable threshold indicative of a similarity match between the first gait and the second gait; and

authenticating the vehicle access signal responsive to determining that the first gait matches the second gait.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that the first gait matches the second gait; and

generating a command for a status notification action indicative of an authentication status.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein generating the command for the status notification action comprises at least one of:

sending an alert to the passive key device; actuating a vehicle horn; and

actuating a vehicle light.

4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein generating the command for the status notification action comprises:

sending, to the passive key device, a command for the status notification action, wherein the command for the status notification action configures the passive key device for generating a notification indicative that the vehicle access signal is not authenticated.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining the second gait comprises:

measuring, via the vehicle perception system, an approach vector of the user;

determining, based on the approach vector, a C-gait motion vector, a receipt time for the C-gait motion vector, and a position approximation for the user relative to the vehicle perception system; and

encoding the C-gait motion vector using the position approximation.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein determining a coordinate approximation for the user comprises:

characterizing a motion type associated with the user approaching the vehicle; and

determining the coordinate approximation for the user using the motion type.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein measuring the second gait based on the position approximation comprises:

receiving, via a vehicle vision system, an image frame associated with the approach vector; and

determining, using the position approximation, that the user is visible in the image frame at a location associated with the coordinate approximation.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the vehicle vision system comprises an optical camera.

9. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the vehicle vision system comprises a thermal vision camera.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein receiving the first gait comprises:

determining that the passive key device is within a detection zone associated with the vehicle;

sending a confirmation signal to the passive key device;

generating, responsive to receiving a confirmation message from the passive key device, a wakeup signal to initiate a vehicle vision system;

sending, to the passive key device, a request message for a key G-gait motion vector; and

receiving, from the passive key device carried by the user, the key G-gait motion vector responsive to the request message.

11. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

responsive to authenticating the vehicle access signal, registering a door handle touch or a walk-up unlock trigger; and

sending a door unlock command to a lock actuator associated with a vehicle door responsive to registering the door handle touch or walk-up unlock trigger.

12. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

responsive to authenticating the vehicle access signal, determining that the first gait is not identical to the second gait; and

placing the vehicle in a lock mode responsive to determining that the first gait does not match the second gait.

13. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory for storing executable instructions, the processor programmed to execute the instructions to:

receive, from a passive key device carried by a user, a first gait of the user approaching a vehicle;

determine, via a vehicle perception system onboard the vehicle, a second gait of the user;

determine that the first gait is within an acceptable similarity measure range to the second gait; and

authenticate a vehicle access signal responsive to determining that the first gait is within the acceptable similarity measure range to the second gait.

14. The system according to claim 13 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:

determine that the first gait is outside an acceptable similarity measure range to the second gait; and

generate a command for a status notification action indicative of a failed authentication status.

15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the processor is further programmed to generate the command for the status notification action by executing the instructions to:

send an alert to the passive key device;

actuate a vehicle horn; and

actuate a vehicle light.

16. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the processor is further programmed to generate the command for the status notification action by executing the instructions to:

send, to the passive key device, the command for the status notification action, wherein the command for the status notification action configures the passive key device for generating a notification.

17. The system according to claim 13 , wherein the processor is further programmed to determine the second gait by executing the instructions to:

measure, via the vehicle perception system, an approach vector of the user; determine, using the approach vector, a C-gait signature, a receipt time for the C-gait signature, a position approximation for the user relative to the vehicle perception system; and

encode the C-gait signature using the position approximation.

18. The system according to claim 17 , wherein the processor is further programmed to determine the position approximation for the user by executing the instructions to:

characterize a motion type associated with the user approaching the vehicle; and determine the position approximation for the user using the motion type.

19. The system according to claim 17 , wherein the processor is further programmed to measure the second gait using the position approximation by executing the instructions to:

receive, via a vehicle vision system, an image frame associated with the approach vector; and

determine, using the position approximation, that the user is visible in the image frame at a location associated with a coordinate approximation.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium in a vehicle controller, the computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereupon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform steps that authorize a vehicle access signal using two independent signal verifications:

receive, from a device associated with a user, a first gait of the user approaching a vehicle;

determine, via a vehicle perception system onboard the vehicle, a second gait of the user;

determine that the first gait is similar, within an acceptable similarity measure threshold, to the second gait; and

authenticate the vehicle access signal responsive to determining that first gait is similar, within the acceptable similarity measure threshold, to the second gait.