Selective automated vehicle brake force release on an inclined surface

1. A system for controlling vehicle movement, comprising:

a brake assembly configured to selectively resist movement of a vehicle;

a controller that selectively controls a brake force applied by the brake assembly, the controller being configured to

determine a drive torque condition when the vehicle is stationary on an inclined surface; and

selectively control a rate of automatically reducing the brake force dependent on the determined drive torque condition to allow the vehicle to accelerate.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to

determine the drive torque condition based on information corresponding to a type of engine associated with the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to

determine the drive torque condition based on information corresponding to a current gear of a transmission associated with the engine.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to

determine the drive torque condition based on at least one characteristic of the transmission, the at least one characteristic being dependent on a type of the transmission.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to

determine the drive torque condition based on information corresponding to a current engine torque of the engine.

6. The system of claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to

determine a slope of the inclined surface; and

selectively control the rate of automatically reducing the brake force dependent on the slope.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to

determine a terrain condition of the inclined surface; and

selectively control the rate of automatically reducing the brake force dependent on the terrain condition.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to

use a first rate of automatically reducing the brake force for a first determined drive torque condition; and

use a second, different rate of automatically reducing the brake force for a second, different determined drive torque condition.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to

achieve a first vehicle acceleration rate using the first rate of automatically reducing the brake force for a determined slope of the inclined surface;

achieve a second vehicle acceleration rate using the second rate of automatically reducing the brake force for the determined slope of the inclined surface; and

wherein the first vehicle acceleration rate is approximately equal to the second vehicle acceleration rate.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to

determine a target vehicle descent speed; and

selectively control the rate of automatically reducing the brake force dependent on the target vehicle descent speed.

11. A method of controlling movement of a vehicle including a brake assembly configured to selectively resist movement of the vehicle and a controller that selectively controls a brake force applied by the brake assembly, the method comprising the steps of:

using the controller for determining a drive torque condition when the vehicle is stationary on an inclined surface; and

using the controller for selectively controlling a rate of automatically reducing the brake force dependent on the determined drive torque condition to allow the vehicle to accelerate.

12. The method of claim 11 , comprising

determining the drive torque condition based on information corresponding to a type of engine associated with the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12 , comprising

determining the drive torque condition based on information corresponding to a current gear of a transmission associated with the engine.

14. The method of claim 13 , comprising

determining the drive torque condition based on at least one characteristic of the transmission, the at least one characteristic being dependent on a type of the transmission.

15. The method of claim 13 , comprising

determining the drive torque condition based on information corresponding to a current engine torque of the engine.

16. The method of claim 13 , comprising

determining a slope of the inclined surface; and

selectively controlling the rate of automatically reducing the brake force dependent on the slope.

17. The method of claim 16 , comprising

determining a terrain condition of the inclined surface; and

selectively controlling the rate of automatically reducing the brake force dependent on the terrain condition.

18. The method of claim 11 , comprising

using a first rate of automatically reducing the brake force for a first determined drive torque condition; and

using a second, different rate of automatically reducing the brake force for a second, different determined drive torque condition.

19. The method of claim 18 , comprising

achieving a first vehicle acceleration rate using the first rate of automatically reducing the brake force for a determined slope of the inclined surface;

achieving a second vehicle acceleration rate using the second rate of automatically reducing the brake force for the determined slope of the inclined surface; and

wherein the first vehicle acceleration rate is approximately equal to the second vehicle acceleration rate.

20. The method of claim 11 , comprising

determining a target vehicle descent speed; and

selectively controlling the rate of automatically reducing the brake force dependent on the target vehicle descent speed.

21. A vehicle comprising

a system for controlling movement of the vehicle system including

a brake assembly configured to selectively resist movement of a vehicle;

a controller that selectively controls a brake force applied by the brake assembly, the controller being configured to

determine a drive torque condition when the vehicle is stationary on an inclined surface; and

selectively control a rate of automatically reducing the brake force dependent on the determined drive torque condition to allow the vehicle to accelerate.