Patent ID: 8352126

Claim:
An assistance system for driving a motor vehicle in slopes, wherein the system comprises sensors for continuous measurements of physical quantities related to the movement of the vehicle, an electronic path-correcting computer named ESP computer integrating a hill assist module for uphill starting assistance and a hill descent control module for limiting downhill speed, and actuators controlled by the ESP computer in order to act on different driving parameters of the vehicle, wherein the computer further integrates a hill assist descent control module for assistance with control of driveability in slopes which orders the entry into action and withdrawal of either one of said hill assist and hill descent control modules for handling intermediate life situations of the vehicle between situations managed by the hill assist module and those managed by the hill descent control module, wherein the hill assist descent control module controls (i) when the vehicle is starting on an uphill slope and when the vehicle is starting on a downhill slope, entry into action of the hill assist module for starting assistance, (ii) gradual withdrawal from operation of the hill assist module after an operating time of the hill assist module longer than a predetermined duration, and (iii) the vehicle then being in movement, entry into action of the hill descent control module if the speed of the vehicle is higher than a predetermined speed on a downhill slope, so as to slow down the vehicle to this predetermined speed.