Descent control of vehicle speed

The present disclosure provides a method of automatically controlling ground speed of a vehicle 100 in which the vehicle 100 includes a control system having a controller 106, a throttle 126, a brake sensor 128, and a braking mechanism 108, 110, 124. The method includes enabling a descent control function in the controller 106, detecting a change in a vehicle operating condition, determining current vehicle ground speed, establishing a desired vehicle speed based on the current vehicle ground speed, and controlling the braking mechanism 108, 110, 124 to maintain vehicle ground speed at or below the desired vehicle speed.