GM Files Patent For Vehicle Height-Based Navigation Routing

GM has filed a patent application for a height-based navigation routing system for vehicles. The filing was made under patent number US 12,313,413 B2 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and was filed on November 14^th, 2022. The filing was published on May 27^th, 2025, and lists several engineers as the inventors, including Donald K. Grimm, Talus Park, and Tomislav Babic.

The GM patent application describes a navigation system that enables drivers to select a route based on the height clearance needs of their vehicle. It’s designed to prevent issues where tall vehicles, such as trucks with roof racks, trailers, or cargo, may collide with low overpasses or other overhead obstacles. The system uses a combination of GPS, wireless communication, and a specialized controller to determine safe routes based on how tall the vehicle is and what obstacles may lie ahead.

What makes this system different from current navigation tools is that it doesn’t rely on solely static map data. Instead, it actively considers real-time or updated clearance data for obstacles along a route. It works by collecting height measurements of obstacles from multiple vehicles, storing this data in a shared database, and using it to calculate a “comfort score” for different routes. This score tells the system how safe each route is in terms of height clearance for a specific vehicle. If the vehicle is towing something, the system can ask the driver for trailer height and adjust the clearance accordingly. It can also detect towing status automatically.

To make it all work, the controller calculates scores by comparing the vehicle’s height with the heights of upcoming obstacles. If a potential clearance problem is detected, the system can alert the driver. The model for calculating the safety of a route even accounts for vehicle behavior, like speed or steering angle, to refine the score further.

This system is obviously useful for drivers with tall vehicles who need to avoid routes with low bridges or other height-restricted areas. It’s also particularly helpful in real-world conditions where map data may be outdated or where temporary obstacles might exist. The system’s ability to gather and update data from many vehicles makes it more accurate over time, helping improve safety and prevent costly or dangerous accidents caused by clearance issues.