1. A system for detecting objects in a zone proximate to a machine, the machine including one or more machine components lying within the zone, the system comprising: a detection sensor operatively associated with the machine and configured to generate detection signals, if the detection sensor senses an object within the zone, and transmit the detection signals; an output device configured to provide an alert to an operator of the machine, if an object is present in the zone proximate to the machine, in response to an alert signal; and a controller operatively associated with the detection sensor and output device, the controller including a processor and a memory, the controller configured to: define an obstruction zone proximate to the machine and within the zone, receive the detection signals from the detection sensor, determine if the detection signals indicate that an object exists within the obstruction zone, determine if the object is indicative of a machine component of the one or more machine components, if the detection signals indicate that the object exists within the obstruction zone, based on a learned obstruction detection process, the learned obstruction detection process configured to determine if the object is indicative of the machine component by comparing the detection signals with component-associated detection data, the component-associated detection data indicative of occurrences in which one or more of the one or more machine components are detected within the obstruction zone, and provide the alert signal to the output device if the object is not indicative of the machine component of the one or more machine components.