A system for automated vehicle portal entry, comprising: a camera collocated with the portal; a mechanical system configured to open the portal; a radio frequency hub configured to detect and identify a key fob associated with a user when the key fob is within a certain range of the vehicle; an image processing engine (20, 200) configured to determine when to open the portal, wherein the image processing engine is communicatively coupled to the mechanical system, the camera and the radio frequency hub; wherein when the radio frequency hub detects and identifies the key fob associated with the user, the radio frequency hub is configured to send an enable signal to the image processing engine which in turn is configured to send the enable signal to the camera, wherein the camera is subsequently configured to send images to the image processing engine; wherein the image processing engine is configured to perform a user detection determination at the portal based on the images received from the camera, wherein the user detection determination consists of determining: whether the user is standing at the back of the vehicle in the images based on light, contour, or colour gradient changes; and subsequently whether the user performs a predetermined gesture; and wherein the image processing engine (20, 200) is configured to activate the mechanical system to open the portal when the user detection determination indicates that the user is standing at the back of the vehicle and that subsequently the pre-determined gesture has been detected. a camera collocated with the portal; a mechanical system configured to open the portal; a radio frequency hub configured to detect and identify a key fob associated with a user when the key fob is within a certain range of the vehicle; an image processing engine (20, 200) configured to determine when to open the portal, wherein the image processing engine is communicatively coupled to the mechanical system, the camera and the radio frequency hub; wherein when the radio frequency hub detects and identifies the key fob associated with the user, the radio frequency hub is configured to send an enable signal to the image processing engine which in turn is configured to send the enable signal to the camera, wherein the camera is subsequently configured to send images to the image processing engine; wherein the image processing engine is configured to perform a user detection determination at the portal based on the images received from the camera, wherein the user detection determination consists of determining: whether the user is standing at the back of the vehicle in the images based on light, contour, or colour gradient changes; and subsequently whether the user performs a predetermined gesture; and whether the user is standing at the back of the vehicle in the images based on light, contour, or colour gradient changes; and subsequently whether the user performs a predetermined gesture; and wherein the image processing engine (20, 200) is configured to activate the mechanical system to open the portal when the user detection determination indicates that the user is standing at the back of the vehicle and that subsequently the pre-determined gesture has been detected.