Abstract: A battery assembly is disposed on a mowing vehicle having at least two electric drive assemblies. The battery assembly includes a plurality of battery packs joined together, where two of the battery packs are structurally connected to the vehicle frame and at least one other battery pack is structurally connected only to the first two battery packs to form a structural support for the vehicle. A fourth battery pack may be connected to and disposed below one of the other battery packs, and may be located between the two electric drive assemblies. A portion of the battery assembly may be located between an operator seat and a portion of the drive assemblies.

Abstract: A vibration damping apparatus for mounting an electric actuator on a hydraulic drive is disclosed herein. A mounting assembly comprises a mounting adapter and a vibration damping clamp. A base plate is coupled to and positioned between a housing of the electric actuator and the drive to mount the actuator housing to the drive. A support arm extends from the base plate and the damping clamp is coupled to a distal end of the support arm. The damping clamp extends circumferentially about a housing of an electric motor of the actuator to secure the electric motor to the drive. A fastener may couple a drive adapter to a trunnion, and a magnet is mounted to the fastener and positioned adjacent to a magnetic field sensor positioned within an electric actuator housing. A spring biases the magnet into a positional range adjacent to the field sensor.

Abstract: A utility vehicle with regenerative braking is disclosed. The utility vehicle includes a system power bus, a battery coupled to the system power bus, at least one electric drive motor configured to generate power through the regenerative braking and supply the power onto the system power bus, and a first controller configured to decrease a maximum travel speed to reduce an amount of the power generated through the regenerative braking when the battery is fully charged and the power is greater than a power consumption limit.

Abstract: Autonomous vehicle navigation is disclosed. A tangible computer readable medium includes instructions which, when executed cause a machine to divide an image of an area being approached by a lawn mower into a grid of separate image sections. Each of the image sections corresponds to a respective portion of the area being approached. For each of the image sections in the grid, the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to calculate, using an image recognition algorithm, a percentage of the image section categorized as corresponding with unmowable material and assign a result value based on a comparison between the calculated percentage and one or more movement thresholds. The instructions, when executed, also cause the machine to instruct a drive system to control movement of the lawn mower based on an arrangement of result values in the grid of the image sections.

Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a communication network, a vehicle integration module, and a pair of control assemblies. Each of the pair of control assemblies is configured to be operated by a respective control lever and communicatively connected to the vehicle integration module. Each of the pair of control assemblies comprises an operator control assembly that includes a neutral switch, a return-to-neutral assembly configured to provide a return force to the respective control lever, a return-to-neutral shaft supporting a portion of the return-to-neutral assembly, a magnet attached to the return-to-neutral shaft, a position sensor assembly, and a linkage connecting the operator control assembly to the return-to-neutral assembly. The position sensor assembly includes a circuit board, a magnetic field sensor configured to sense a rotational orientation of the magnet, and a plurality of terminals for communication with the circuit board.

Abstract: Vehicle drive and control systems are disclosed. A utility vehicle includes a first electric drive motor configured to drive a first traction wheel, a second electric drive motor configured to drive the a traction wheel, a steering wheel configured to receive a first user input, one or more pedals configured to receive a second user input, a steering input sensor, and a drive input sensor. The steering input sensor is configured transmit a steering input signal that corresponds with a steering input position. The drive input sensor is configured to transmit a drive input signal that corresponds with a drive input position. A plurality of controllers are configured to collectively generate, based on the steering input signal and the drive input signal, a first drive signal to drive the first electric drive motor and a second drive signal to drive the second electric drive motor.

Abstract: A vehicle drive and control system for a vehicle having a prime mover and an operator control device such as a steering wheel is disclosed. A transaxle includes a power generating device in a transaxle housing and driven by the prime mover, an electric motor in the transaxle housing and powered by the power generating device, and at least one axle extending out of the transaxle housing and engaged to and driving one of a pair of driven wheels. A battery is powered by the power generating device, and connected to a controller. The controller is operatively connected to the operator control device and to the electric motor such that the controller controls electric motor output based on input received via the operator control device.

Abstract: A power control system is disclosed for a utility vehicle having position sensors configured to collect vehicle position data. The system includes a propulsion system having electric drive motors powered by a battery, and the drive motors are configured to recharge the battery via regenerative braking. The battery has a maximum charge capacity and a regenerative capacity, wherein the regenerative capacity is a portion of the maximum charge capacity reserved for regenerative braking. Memory is configured to store terrain data indicative of terrain types for a plurality of locations. A processor is configured to determine a location of the utility vehicle based on the position data, identify a current terrain type based on vehicle location and stored terrain data, and generate a command signal to adjust the regenerative capacity of the battery based on the current terrain type.

Abstract: A drive and control system for a utility vehicle includes a CAN-Bus network and a vehicle control module operable to communicate signals to and from one or more components via the CAN-Bus network. The system includes first and second electric actuators with first and second electronic drive modules, respectively. The system includes a steering and drive input device and a steering and drive sensor module operable to post on the CAN-Bus network a steering and drive input command. The vehicle control module processes the steering and drive input command and post on the CAN-Bus network a steering and drive output command. The first and second electronic drive modules process and convert the steering and drive output command to appropriate first and second actuator commands to drive the first and second electric actuators to obtain the desired speed and direction of motion of the utility vehicle.

Abstract: A system for mapping a plot of land includes a utility vehicle and a remote computer. The utility vehicle includes a GPS unit configured to collect location data of the utility vehicle during operation on the plot of land. The utility vehicle includes an accelerometer configured to collect roll data and pitch data of the utility vehicle during operation on the plot of land. The utility vehicle includes a transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit the location data, the roll data, and the pitch data. The remote computer is configured to wirelessly receive the location data, the roll data, and the pitch data. The remote computer is configured to generate a three-dimensional contour map of the plot of land based on the location data, the roll data, and the pitch data.

Abstract: A vehicle having a prime mover and a central gear box mounted to a frame. First and second transaxles are driven by the central gear box. Each transaxle includes an output axle having a completely splined external portion and a threaded end for engagement with a driven wheel, and the completely splined portion of each output axle is disposed in one of the driven wheels of the vehicle. A cross brace may be mounted to the two transaxle housings for rigidity.

Abstract: A drive and control system is provided for use on a zero turn vehicle, and includes first and second hydraulic ground drives independently driving a set of driven wheels. Each ground drive has an electric actuator to control the output thereof. An operator mechanism generates a drive signal corresponding to a neutral drive position or to one of a plurality of non-neutral drive positions of the operator mechanism, and a steering signal corresponding to a neutral steering position or to one of a plurality of non-neutral steering positions of the operator mechanism. Sensors generate signals corresponding to sensed roll, pitch and yaw parameters. A stability control module includes a processor for receiving the drive and steering signals and for providing output signals to the electric actuators.

Abstract: A zero turn vehicle is disclosed, having an operator platform located adjacent to the rear of the frame. An upright riser is disposed on the frame. The vehicle uses first and second electric drive transmissions to drive the output wheels. An electrical bus or controllers may be mounted on a panel of the upright riser or on the drive transmissions to assist in providing a compact design. A pair of drive levers is mounted on the upright riser for controlling the output of the vehicle.

Abstract: A lawn vehicle network includes a charging station having a visual identifier, a lawn vehicle having a battery, a blade system, a drive system whose output effects lawn vehicle forward movement, a processor board connected to both systems, the processor board capable of processing image data and sending commands to both systems, and a vision assembly connected to the processor board and able to transmit image data to the processor board, and the processor board, having received the image data, able to, if the image data represent a first object, maintain the drive system's output at the time of that determination, if the image data represent a second object, change the drive system's output at the time of that determination, and if the image data represent the visual identifier, maintain the drive system's output or send a shutoff command to the vision assembly at the time of that determination.

Abstract: An electric actuator for use with a variable drive apparatus is disclosed herein. The actuator has a rotary design incorporating a magnetic field sensor chip disposed on a circuit board to sense the rotational orientation of the magnetic field of a magnet positioned on the end of a control shaft of the drive apparatus. The actuator further includes an electric motor driving a gear train, and a fastener connecting a drive adapter to the control shaft, and the magnet is engaged to the fastener. A jack shaft may be used to connect the actuator housing to the drive apparatus, with a first end of the jack shaft configured to rotatably mount a gear of the gear train, and a second end including threads to connect the actuator housing to the drive apparatus housing.

Abstract: An electrical connector for a reduction drive assembly includes a connector body and a plurality of pins disposed within the connector body. The plurality of pins include one or more motor pins to conduct power to an electric motor, one or more brake pins to conduct power to an electric brake coil, and one or more sensor pins electrically connected to a sensor board for control of the electric motor.

Abstract: A control system is disclosed for use in a zero turn vehicle, including an electric controller in communication with a pair of independent drive units. A joystick is pivotable between a plurality of pivot positions, each pivot position corresponding to a particular rotational speed and direction of each driven wheel. A plurality of driving modes stored in the controller each map a different set of speeds and directions for each driven wheel onto the plurality of pivot positions. The joystick may also rotate about a vertical axis to provide zero turn capability. In at least one driving mode, when the rotational speed of one driven wheel is zero, the rotational speed of the other driven wheels is zero, and when the rotational speed of one driven wheel is non-zero, the rotational speed of the other driven wheel is non-zero.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for automatic sensitivity adjustment for an autonomous mower. An exemplary mower includes a drive system and one or more cameras. One or more processors are configured to generate a grass value by applying an image recognition algorithm to one or more images, instruct the drive system to autonomously adjust a velocity of current movement in response to determining that the grass value is less than or equal to a mowing threshold, determine a trigger rate that indicates how often the grass value is less than or equal to the mowing threshold within a predefined period of time, decrease the mowing threshold by a decrement in response to determining that the trigger rate is greater than an upper threshold rate, and increase the mowing threshold by an increment in response to determining that the trigger rate is less than a lower threshold rate.

Abstract: Autonomous vehicle navigation is disclosed. An example lawn mower includes a vision sensor configured to capture an image of an area being approached. The lawn mower includes a processor in communication with the vision sensor and configured to divide the image into a grid of separate image sections. Each of the image sections corresponds to a respective portion of the area being approached. For each of the image sections in the grid the processor is further configured to calculate a percentage of the image section categorized as corresponding with unmowable material and assign a result value based on a comparison between the calculated percentage and one or more movement thresholds. The lawn mower includes a drive system in communication with the processor and configured to control movement of the lawn mower based on an arrangement of the result values in the grid of the image sections.

Abstract: A drive and control system for a lawn tractor includes a CAN-Bus network, a plurality of controllers, a pair of electric transaxles controlled by the plurality of controllers, and one or more steering and drive input devices coupled to respective sensor(s) for sensing user steering and drive inputs. The plurality of controllers communicate with one or more vehicle sensors via the CAN-Bus network. The plurality of controllers receive the user's steering and drive inputs and posts on the CAN-Bus network and generate drive signals to obtain the desired speed and direction of motion of the lawn tractor.