Patent ID: 11498392

Abstract:
System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to assisting in closing a trunk door of a vehicle by leveraging a Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning (HVAC) system in the vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting a position of the trunk door, and when the position of the trunk door is an open position, determining whether to activate the HVAC system to reduce air pressure in a trunk of the vehicle, where the trunk and the HVAC system are fluidly connected by an air duct. The method includes, in response to determining to activate the HVAC system to reduce air pressure in the trunk, pumping air out of the trunk through the air duct such that at least some of any increased air pressure caused by a trunk door closure is removed from the trunk. The method includes, when the position of the trunk door has changed from the open position to a closed position, deactivating the HVAC system to stop pumping air out from the trunk.