System and method for hill ascent speed assistance

A method comprising:

• determining a connection status of a trailer;
• determining a slope of a road ahead of a vehicle;
• calculating an effective weight of the vehicle based on (i) vehicle dynamics data and (ii) the connection status of the trailer;
• and
• adjusting a throttle based on the effective weight of the vehicle and a grade of the slope to maintain a set speed when the vehicle is traversing the slope, wherein to adjust the throttle includes instructing the throttle to adjust a mechanical-force-to-throttle ratio to increase torque supplied by an engine of the vehicle with respect to a mechanical force on an acceleration pedal of the vehicle.

A computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a vehicle to:

• determine a connection status of a trailer;
• determine a slope of a road ahead of the vehicle;
• calculate an effective weight of the vehicle based on (i) vehicle dynamics data and (ii) the connection status of the trailer;
• and
• adjust a throttle based on the effective weight of the vehicle and a grade of the slope to maintain a set speed when the vehicle is ascending the slope, wherein adjusting the includes instructing the throttle to adjust a mechanical-force-to-throttle ratio to increase torque supplied by an engine of the vehicle with respect to a mechanical force on an acceleration pedal of the vehicle.

A method comprising:

• when a trailer is connected to a vehicle:
• determining a slope of a road ahead of the vehicle using horizon map data;
• calculating a mechanical-force-to-throttle ratio based on dynamics data of the vehicle and the trailer to maintain a set speed when the vehicle is traversing the slope;
• and
• adjusting a throttle with the mechanical-force-to-throttle ratio to increase torque with respect to a mechanical force on an acceleration pedal of the vehicle.