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.

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.