Hill start assistance method for motor vehicles

A hill start assistance device for a vehicle, comprising:

• an electronic brake control;
• a braking system powered by an external force and the electronic brake control, including at least one master cylinder pressure sensor, pressure on each caliper of the vehicle being controlled by the electronic brake control;
• means for estimating torque transmitted to a clutch of the vehicle;
• and
• means for recording a value of the master cylinder pressure resulting from user actuation of a brake pedal of the vehicle,
• wherein when the user completely releases the brake pedal, the device starts a timer to count for a set period of time during which the braking system maintains the pressure on the calipers as a function of a pressure setpoint equal to the maximum recorded value of the master cylinder pressure,
• wherein during the set period of time,
• the electronic brake control commands a release of the pressure on the calipers when the pull-away conditions are not met by an end of the set period of time;
• the electronic brake control commands a release of the pressure on the calipers when the pull-away conditions are met during the set period of time;
• and
• the means for recording updates the recorded information with a new value of the master cylinder pressure when the user depresses the brake pedal again before the end of the set period of time, and
• wherein, when the means for recording updates the recorded information with the new value of the master cylinder pressure, the device stops the timer and the means for estimating re-estimates the torque transmitted by the clutch.