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: 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: A universal processor-direct bus structure on a specifically partitioned motherboard uses a separate local bus translator card to adapt to a specific local bus protocol and configuration. The processor-direct bus on the motherboard contains a superset of all of the primary signals required to implement any desired local bus structure. The translator card incorporates the connectors and bus translation protocol for a specific local bus structure on a separate card which is connected to the partitioned motherboard through the universal processor-direct bus. Thus, the universal processor-direct bus combined with the translator card makes it possible to have a standard bus (for example an ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) bus, EISA bus, MCA bus, PCI bus, C-bus, S-100 bus and/or other buses) mounted directly on the motherboard with one or more of the same standard buses or a different local bus interfaced to the motherboard through the universal processor-direct bus.