Patent ID: 8103420

Claim:
A method for controlling a vehicle ( 1 ), said vehicle ( 1 ) comprising: an internal-combustion engine ( 4 ) provided with an engine shaft ( 7 ); a servo mechanical gear-change ( 9 ), actuated by at least one first servo control ( 18 , 19 ); a servo clutch ( 6 ), actuated by at least one second servo control ( 20 ) and set between the engine shaft ( 7 ) and a primary shaft ( 16 ) of the gear-change ( 9 ) for connecting and disconnecting the engine shaft ( 7 ) to/from the primary shaft ( 16 ) of the gear-change ( 9 ); and a servo parking brake ( 21 ), actuated by at least one third servo control ( 22 ); the control method comprises the steps of: determining whether the vehicle ( 1 ) is on a slope; detecting whether the internal-combustion engine ( 4 ) is turned on; and detecting whether the vehicle ( 1 ) is stationary; activating the parking brake ( 21 ) automatically and independently of the action of the driver, by driving the third servo control ( 22 ) if the vehicle ( 1 ) is on a slope, if the internal-combustion engine ( 4 ) is turned on, and if the vehicle ( 1 ) is stationary; and deactivating the parking brake ( 21 ) automatically and independently of the action of the driver, by driving the third servo control ( 22 ) when the clutch ( 6 ) is disengaged for transmitting the torque generated by the internal-combustion engine ( 4 ) to the driving wheels ( 3 ); wherein, when the slope is favorable, the instant in which automatic disengagement of the parking brake occurs is anticipated with respect to when the slope is unfavorable.