Systems and methods for operating a power tailgate system

A method for operating a power tailgate system, the method comprising:

• identifying a user input-based request to automatically open a tailgate when the tailgate is latched by a latch movable in a latching direction and in an unlatching direction, and connected with a latch actuator operable to disengage the latch, move the latch in the latching direction, and move the latch in the unlatching direction, and when the latch is in a full-latching position, activated by the latch actuator for non-revertible movement in the latching direction, whereby the latch is not movable in the unlatching direction past the full-latching position, and subject to deactivation by the latch actuator for movement in the unlatching direction, whereby the latch is movable in the unlatching direction;
• and
• overload checking the tailgate in response to the request to automatically open the tailgate, wherein overload checking the tailgate includes:
• a) operating the latch actuator to over-stroke the latch, wherein over-stroking the latch includes moving the latch in the latching direction from the full-latching position to an over-stroking position;
• b) identifying an over-stroking load on the latch actuator, the over-stroking load on the latch actuator associated with its operation to over-stroke the latch;
• and
• c) based on the over-stroking load on the latch actuator, determining whether the tailgate is overloaded or not overloaded.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium for operating a power tailgate system, the non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions that when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to:

• identify a user input-based request to automatically open a tailgate when the tailgate is latched by a latch movable in a latching direction and in an unlatching direction, and connected with a latch actuator operable to disengage the latch, move the latch in the latching direction, and move the latch in the unlatching direction, and when the latch is in a full-latching position, activated by the latch actuator for non-revertible movement in the latching direction, whereby the latch is not movable in the unlatching direction past the full-latching position, and subject to deactivation by the latch actuator for movement in the unlatching direction, whereby the latch is movable in the unlatching direction;
• and
• overload check the tailgate in response to the request to automatically open the tailgate, wherein overload checking the tailgate includes:
• a) operating the latch actuator to over-stroke the latch, wherein over-stroking the latch includes moving the latch in the latching direction from the full-latching position to an over-stroking position;
• b) identifying an over-stroking load on the latch actuator, the over-stroking load on the latch actuator associated with its operation to over-stroke the latch;
• and
• c) based on the over-stroking load on the latch actuator, determining whether the tailgate is overloaded or not overloaded.