Automatic control of a power tailgate under external loading

A method of controlling a vehicle power tailgate system including a motor operably connectible to a tailgate and configured to lower the tailgate at any of at least a first predetermined tailgate opening speed and a second predetermined tailgate opening speed lower than the first opening speed, the method comprising steps of:

• responsive to a determination that no external load is being applied to the tailgate when the tailgate is in a closed condition, controlling operation of the motor to open the tailgate at the first opening speed;
• responsive to a determination that an external load is being applied to the tailgate when the tailgate is in the closed condition, controlling operation of the motor to open the tailgate at the second opening speed if an estimated magnitude of the load is below a predetermined threshold load;
• and
• maintaining the tailgate in the closed condition if the estimated magnitude of the load is at or above the predetermined threshold load.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium for controlling a vehicle power tailgate system including a motor operably operably connectible to a tailgate and configured to lower the tailgate at any of at least a first predetermined tailgate opening speed and a second predetermined tailgate opening speed lower than the first opening speed, the medium storing instructions that when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to:

• responsive to a determination that no external load is being applied to the tailgate when the tailgate is in a closed condition, control operation of the motor to open the tailgate at the first opening speed;
• responsive to a determination that an external load is being applied to the tailgate when the tailgate is in the closed condition, control operation of the motor to open the tailgate at the second opening speed if an estimated magnitude of the load is below a predetermined threshold load;
• and
• maintain the tailgate in the closed condition if the estimated magnitude of the load is at or above the predetermined threshold load.