Object detection system and method using a camera and a multiple zone temperature sensor

A system (10) and method (300) to provide a notification to an operator (20) of a vehicle (12) that an object (14) is proximate to the vehicle (12). Data from a visible light camera (16) and a multiple zone temperature sensor (18) are combined or fused to determine which regions of a display (32) should be highlighted in order to help the vehicle (12) operator (20) better notice or discern an object (14) shown on a display (32). The region or area of the display (32) highlighted is determined by displaying a highlighted area or icon on the display (32) corresponding to an area where objects detected on image data (26) maps of hue and/or saturation and/or intensity data from the camera (16) intersect with objects detected on a temperature data (28) map from the temperature sensor (18). Misalignment between the camera (16) and the temperature sensor (18) may be tolerated by expanding the object (14) detected on the various maps in order to increase the probability of an intersection occurring.