Abstract: There is provided a method for controlling an electric vehicle. The method includes receiving a regenerative braking activation indicator. If the regenerative braking activation indicator is affirmative, the method includes applying regenerative braking at an initial level to an electric motor of the electric vehicle. The method also includes obtaining a vehicle motion parameter of the electric vehicle measured when the regenerative braking is being applied. In addition, the method includes changing the regenerative braking to a modified level based on the vehicle motion parameter.

Abstract: There is provided a method of operating an electric device. The method includes receiving one or more operating power levels being used by one or more loads on a given circuit of the electric device, and setting a power threshold based on the one or more operating power levels. The method also includes receiving an output power level being delivered to the given circuit by a power source connected to the given circuit, and comparing the output power level with the power threshold. Furthermore, the method includes, if the output power level exceeds the power threshold, reducing the output power level to less than or equal to the power threshold. A related power regulator is also provided.

Abstract: A method for driving a tractor on a flatbed trailer. The method includes locating a starting position of the tractor, determining a final position for the tractor, and searching for a ramp attached to the flatbed trailer. A driving path is calculated to drive the tractor from the starting position, along the ramp, and to the final position. The tractor is autonomously operated to drive along the driving path. The method may periodically detect an intermediate position of the tractor and determining if the intermediate position is located on the driving path. The driving path may be updated with a course correction to drive the tractor from the intermediate position to the final position. The tractor is stopped after arriving at the final position.

Abstract: There is provided a method of forming a ring gear, including providing a tube having an inner surface comprising gear teeth, the tube being a hollow tube formed by extrusion. The method also includes inserting a shaping tool into the tube, the shaping tool having tool teeth to mate with the gear teeth, and extended and retracted configurations. The shaping tool may be inserted into the tube in its retracted configuration. Moreover, the method includes extending the shaping tool into its extended configuration to cause the tool teeth to mate with the gear teeth and to exert a radially outward force on the tube. Furthermore, the method includes fixing a shape of an outer perimeter of the tube, retracting the shaping tool into its retracted configuration to reduce the radially outward force exerted by the shaping tool on the tube, and removing the shaping tool from the tube.

Abstract: An electric motor including a stator having a stator slot, and a composite material within the stator slot. The composite material includes a matrix material, and additive particles having thermal conductivity and anisotropic electric properties. The additive particles are oriented in an aligned configuration and set to provide the composite material with thermal conductivity and reduced electrical conductivity in at least one direction based on the aligned configuration.

Abstract: There is provided a method comprising receiving at a controller an input comprising a channel output from an input channel of a vehicle. The input is triggered by an operation of the vehicle by an operator. The input channel has a corresponding direct operational manifestation. The method also comprises comparing at the controller the input with a set of input patterns to select from the set of input patterns a target input pattern corresponding to the input, and generating at the controller a control output corresponding to the target input pattern. The control output is configured to cause in the vehicle a target operational manifestation different than the direct operational manifestation. Furthermore, the method comprises sending the control output from the controller to the vehicle.

Abstract: There are provided electric motors each having a rotor, a stator, and a plurality of conductive windings each disposed around a corresponding tooth of the stator. The rotor is to rotate about an axis of rotation defining an axial direction. The rotor includes a backiron and a plurality of magnets secured to an inner surface of the backiron. The stator is disposed inside the rotor and centered about the axis of rotation. The stator includes a plurality of teeth each extending radially relative to the axis of rotation towards the inner surface of the backiron and terminating in a corresponding tooth end disposed proximal to the inner surface.

Abstract: There is provided a method of controlling an electric motor having a rotor and a stator. The method includes controlling the motor in a low-speed mode by injecting a high frequency (HF) signal into the motor. The HF signal may have an initial voltage and an initial frequency. The method may also include obtaining a speed of the rotor relative to the stator, and obtaining a reference input being sent to the motor. Moreover, the method may include comparing the speed and the reference input with a speed threshold and a reference input threshold respectively. In addition, the method may include reducing at least one of the initial voltage and the initial frequency if the speed is below the speed threshold and the reference input is below the reference input threshold, to reduce an acoustic noise caused by injecting the HF signal into the electric motor.

Abstract: There is provided a device to be used as a magnet. The device comprises a first member, a second member, and a third member. The first member defines a trench extending along a longitudinal direction. The trench has a top being open. Moreover, the first member comprises a first material being magnetizable. The second member is received in the trench and secured to the first member. The second member comprises a second material being magnetizable. Furthermore, the third member is received in the trench and secured to the first member. The third member comprises a third material being magnetizable. The third member and the second member are disposed side-by-side along the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An electric motor, including a motor assembly having a rotor and a stator, and a switching assembly adapted to switch the motor assembly between a wye configuration, a delta configuration, and a neutral configuration. The switching assembly may include a plurality of actuators configured to move at least two movable contact members so as to select which configuration of the motor assembly is active.

Abstract: An enclosure includes a housing defining an interior chamber for receiving an electronic assembly. The housing is made of a thermally conductive material so as to operate as a heat sink. The housing has a heat transfer surface within the interior chamber for receiving heat generating components thereon, and an interior groove within the interior chamber. The enclosure also includes a retaining clip having a clip length, a first portion extending along the clip length for engaging the interior groove, and a second portion extending along the clip length for engaging the heat generating components. The retaining clip is made from a resilient material and is sized and shaped such that positioning the first portion in the interior groove flexes the retaining clip and presses the second portion against the heat generating components so as to bias the heat generating components into thermal contact with the heat transfer surface.

Abstract: An enclosure includes a housing defining an interior chamber for receiving an electronic assembly. The housing is made of a thermally conductive material so as to operate as a heat sink. The housing has a heat transfer surface within the interior chamber for receiving heat generating components thereon, and an interior groove within the interior chamber. The enclosure also includes a retaining clip having a clip length, a first portion extending along the clip length for engaging the interior groove, and a second portion extending along the clip length for engaging the heat generating components. The retaining clip is made from a resilient material and is sized and shaped such that positioning the first portion in the interior groove flexes the retaining clip and presses the second portion against the heat generating components so as to bias the heat generating components into thermal contact with the heat transfer surface.

Abstract: A vehicle such as a riding lawn mower may have at least one electric drive motor configured to drive at least one wheel, at least one electric blade motor configured to drive at least one cutting blade, and a battery module connected to the drive and blade motors. According to some embodiments, a method of controlling the vehicle may include: operating the blade motor according to a blade target speed; monitoring a blade current load for the blade motor; comparing the blade current load to a light load low threshold for the blade motor; and if the blade current load is less than the light load low threshold, decreasing the blade target speed.

Abstract: A steering system for a riding lawn mower includes a wheel frame pivotally coupled to a vehicle frame about a roll axis. The wheel frame has spaced apart upper and lower wheel frame members. Steering knuckles are pivotally coupled to opposing sides of the wheel frame for rotatably supporting wheels. Each steering knuckle is straddle mounted between the upper and lower wheel frame members. A rack and pinion steering mechanism for pivoting the steering knuckles is coupled to a steering wheel via a steering column. The steering column includes a shaft portion extending along a shaft axis and has at least one socketed connection. The socketed connection transmits rotational movement about the shaft axis between the shaft portion and another rotatable component. The socketed connection also permits axial movement of the shaft portion along the shaft axis in response to the wheel frame rolling relative to the vehicle frame.

Abstract: An electric motor, including a motor assembly having a rotor and a stator, and a switching assembly adapted to switch the motor assembly between a wye configuration, a delta configuration, and a neutral configuration. The switching assembly may include a plurality of actuators configured to move at least two movable contact members so as to select which configuration of the motor assembly is active.

Abstract: A method of operating an electric motor having a motor assembly that includes a rotor and a stator. The method includes providing the electric motor in a neutral state, and from the neutral state, determining whether to operate the electric motor in a wye configuration or a delta configuration and then operating the motor in that state. In some embodiments, if the electric motor is to be operated in the wye configuration, then putting at least one first actuator into a first state and then powering the stator, and if the electric motor is to be operated in the delta configuration, then putting at least one second actuator into a first state and then powering the stator.

Abstract: A steering system for a riding lawn mower includes a wheel frame pivotally coupled to a vehicle frame about a roll axis. The wheel frame has spaced apart upper and lower wheel frame members. Steering knuckles are pivotally coupled to opposing sides of the wheel frame for rotatably supporting wheels. Each steering knuckle is straddle mounted between the upper and lower wheel frame members. A rack and pinion steering mechanism for pivoting the steering knuckles is coupled to a steering wheel via a steering column. The steering column includes a shaft portion extending along a shaft axis and has at least one socketed connection. The socketed connection transmits rotational movement about the shaft axis between the shaft portion and another rotatable component. The socketed connection also permits axial movement of the shaft portion along the shaft axis in response to the wheel frame rolling relative to the vehicle frame.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a vehicle control system. The control system includes a steering control coupled to at least one steerable wheel, the steering control having a first position, a second position and a plurality of positions therebetween. The control system also includes a steering sensor coupled to the steering control and configured to generate steering sensor signals based upon the position of the steering control. The control system also includes a control module coupled to the steering sensor, the control module configured to (i)record a first steering sensor signal value when the steering control is in the first position; (ii) record a second steering sensor signal value when the steering control is in the second position; and (iii) determine a current position of the steering control by comparing the first and second steering sensor signal values with a current steering sensor signal value.

Abstract: A vehicle such as a riding lawn mower may have at least one electric drive motor configured to drive at least one wheel, at least one electric blade motor configured to drive at least one cutting blade, and a battery module connected to the drive and blade motors. According to some embodiments, a method of controlling the vehicle may include: operating the blade motor according to a blade target speed; monitoring a blade current load for the blade motor; comparing the blade current load to a light load low threshold for the blade motor; and if the blade current load is less than the light load low threshold, decreasing the blade target speed.