Method for controlling a motor vehicle

A non-transitory computer-readable medium, said storing thereon a computer program product used for controlling a motor vehicle, said computer program code comprising computer instructions to cause one or more computer processors to perform the following operations:

• retrieve road gradient data relating to a road gradient along an expected travelling route of the motor vehicle;
• based on at least the retrieved road gradient data, simulate a required value of a braking power related variable, which required value is needed to prevent a vehicle speed of the motor vehicle from increasing above a preset desired vehicle speed in an upcoming downhill slope;
• determine an available value of the braking power related variable of at least one auxiliary brake of the motor vehicle;
• and
• based on the determined available value of the braking power related variable and the simulated required value of the braking power related variable, control the vehicle speed and/or at least one brake actuator of the motor vehicle prior to entering the upcoming downhill slope such that the vehicle speed does not increase above the preset desired vehicle speed in the upcoming downhill slope.

An apparatus configured for controlling a motor vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one computer processor;
• and
• a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing thereon a computer program product used for controlling a motor vehicle, said computer program code comprising computer instructions to cause one or more computer processors to perform the following operations:
• retrieve road gradient data relating to a road gradient along an expected travelling route of the motor vehicle;
• based on at least the retrieved road gradient data, simulate a required value of a braking power related variable, which required value is needed to prevent a vehicle speed of the motor vehicle from increasing above a preset desired vehicle speed in an upcoming downhill slope;
• determine an available value of the braking power related variable of at least one auxiliary brake of the motor vehicle;
• and
• based on the determined available value of the braking power related variable and the simulated required value of the braking power related variable, control the vehicle speed and/or at least one brake actuator of the motor vehicle prior to entering the upcoming downhill slope such that the vehicle speed does not increase above the preset desired vehicle speed in the upcoming downhill slope.

A motor vehicle comprising an apparatus configured for controlling a motor vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one computer processor;
• and
• a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing thereon a computer program product used for controlling a motor vehicle, said computer program code comprising computer instructions to cause one or more computer processors to perform the following operations:
• retrieve road gradient data relating to a road gradient along an expected travelling route of the motor vehicle;
• based on at least the retrieved road gradient data, simulate a required value of a braking power related variable, which required value is needed to prevent a vehicle speed of the motor vehicle from increasing above a preset desired vehicle speed in an upcoming downhill slope;
• determine an available value of the braking power related variable of at least one auxiliary brake of the motor vehicle;
• and
• based on the determined available value of the braking power related variable and the simulated required value of the braking power related variable, control the vehicle speed and/or at least one brake actuator of the motor vehicle prior to entering the upcoming downhill slope such that the vehicle speed does not increase above the preset desired vehicle speed in the upcoming downhill slope.