Abstract: A sealing system for an electronics enclosure includes an enclosure having a first enclosure half and a second enclosure half, the first enclosure half including at least one sidewall, a multi-lip radial sealing member having a plurality of lip elements, the lip elements extending perpendicularly to the side wall, the radial sealing member being positioned between the first enclosure half and the second enclosure half such that the radial sealing member remains flush against the enclosure, and the lip elements form continuous points of contact around the perimeter of the enclosure.

Abstract: A lawnmower, and in particular a robotic lawnmower, can include a passive cleaning assembly for removing detritus from the lawnmower housing. The passive cleaning assembly can be moveably mounted on the housing. Movement of the lawnmower with respect to the ground can cause a cleaning portion of the passive cleaning assembly to move with respect to the housing, and thereby remove detritus from the housing.

Abstract: A system and method for differential traction drive and steering axis coordination for an autonomous mower or other turf device includes initiating a steering motion based on determining a target forward speed and a steering rotational speed, calculating a left wheel speed and a right wheel speed, and applying the left and right wheel speeds, wherein the steering rotational speed is driven by a steering motor and the traction wheels associated with the autonomous mower, and the left and right wheel speeds are based on the target forward speed, a distance from a steering axle to the center of the respective wheel, and the steering rotational speed.

Abstract: A lawn maintenance device has a transverse center line, a frame, and a power source including an output shaft attached to the frame. The lawn maintenance device further includes a rotating cutting blade. A left side is located on one side of the transverse center line and a right side located on a second side of the transverse center line. A plurality of ground engaging members are attached to the frame enabling movement of the lawn maintenance device along an associated driven surface. The ground engaging members on the left side are located at a first distance from the transverse center line that is different from a second distance that those on the right side are located from the transverse center line. Another example includes ground engaging members on opposite sides of the lawn maintenance device being located at different distances from a central axis of the cutting blade.

Abstract: A high-efficiency blade for a lawn maintenance tool includes a central axis and a mounting portion located on the central axis. The high-efficiency blade includes a cutting blade and a cutting blade sharpened leading edge. A cleaning blade is vertically offset from the cutting blade and is configured to mulch the associated clippings from vegetation and reduce an associated accumulation of clippings on an underside of an associated mower deck. The lawn maintenance tool can also include a deck having a separation distance between the cleaning blade and an underside of the deck. The deck can include an elevation change to vary the separation distance. The deck and high-efficiency blade can also include a forward or rearward tilt.

Abstract: A demarcating system for indicating the boundary of an area to an object (for example a robot, such as a robotic lawnmower), which has a receiver for receiving electromagnetic signals. The system includes a control system, a wire loop, a signal generator, and current sensing circuitry. The wire loop can be arranged by a user along a path, so as to indicate the path to the object as part of a boundary of the area. The signal generator is electrically connected to the wire loop in order to apply voltage signals thereto, such signals causing the emission of corresponding electromagnetic boundary indicating signals from the wire loop that may be received by the receiver of the object. The signal generator is under the control of the control system with the voltage signals applied by the signal generator to the wire loop being controlled by the control system. The current sensing circuitry senses current signals present within the wire loop and the processors of the control system analyse such current signals.

Abstract: A low-energy blade system having a quick-change attachment for a lawn maintenance tool is provided. The low-energy blade system requires a reduced amount of energy to rotate the blade system. The blade system includes a shell, a mounting plate attached to the shell, a plurality of quick-attach mechanisms, and a separate cutting blade attachable to each of the quick-attach mechanisms. Each quick-attach mechanism allows a cutting blade to be attached to the mounting plate without the need for external tools, such as screwdriver, wrench, ratchet, or the like.

Abstract: A method for autonomous mower navigation includes performing a training operation for an area including identifying a GPS signal associated with a training apparatus, iteratively recording data associated geolocations of the training apparatus as the training apparatus moves along a trajectory through the area, smoothing the geolocation data associated with the trajectory, and storing the smoothed geolocation data. The method can include subsequent to the training operation, performing a greens association process including establishing a link between the autonomous mower and an RTK-GPS base, receiving by the autonomous mower correction data from the RTK-GPS base, and determining an approach angle to a work area, wherein the path the autonomous mower travels to the work zone is defined by the approach angle.

Abstract: A track drive for outdoor power equipment has a support frame with a centerline and a hub bearing attached to the support frame. A drive sprocket having a nesting interior half and exterior half is attached to the hub bearing, which enables the drive sprocket to rotate relative to the support frame. The drive sprocket is attached to an associated drive hub of a piece of outdoor power equipment. Drive sprocket teeth are spaced radially about the drive sprocket, with a first set of drive teeth attached to the interior half sprocket and located on an interior side of the support frame. A second set of drive teeth are attached to the exterior half sprocket and located on an exterior side of the support frame. The drive sprocket transmits a rotational force to an endless track to rotate the endless track and propel the outdoor power equipment.

Abstract: A lawn maintenance vehicle includes an adjustable seat assembly, wherein the seat assembly is rotatable relative to a frame of the vehicle when the vehicle is operated on a sloped surface. The seat assembly is rotatable in order to maintain the operator in a substantially vertical seated alignment while operating the vehicle on a sloped surface. The seat assembly is also rotatable when the vehicle is in a zero-turn or tight-turn maneuver, wherein the seat is rotated toward the center of turning radius to offset the centrifugal forces experienced by the operator during such a maneuver.

Abstract: A mobile outdoor power equipment machine for performing a controlled task within a work area includes a drive system for providing movement of the machine, a working apparatus for performing the task, and a scanning system for scanning an area surrounding the machine. The scanning system is configured to provide detection of physical elements in the environment to aid in navigation of the machine. In an embodiment, the scanning system and a control system are configured to scan the area, determine the presence of a physical element in the area, determine that the physical element is located within the work area, determine the proximity of the physical element to the machine, determine a confidence level of whether the physical element is an animate being, and direct a behavior of the machine correlating to a combination of the confidence level and the proximity.

Abstract: A high-efficiency cutting system for an autonomous mower provides a multiple blade tip cutting radius for a cleaner cut, and more complete mow. The system includes a spinning blade disk provided within a housing including a vertical standoff. The blade disk includes a first pair of cutting blades located between the center of the blade disk and the circumference of the blade disk, and a second pair of cutting blades located radially inward from the first pair of cutting blades. The cutting blades extend downward and away from the blade disk at an angle.

Abstract: A removably attached operator control unit for controlling operation of an outdoor power equipment machine includes an operator control unit housing, a first joystick and a second joystick extending from an upper housing portion, the first and second joysticks being configured to communicate control actions to a control circuit of the operator control unit, and at least one switch configured to communicate control actions to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is operable to receive control actions resulting from actuations of the joysticks, and switch and to communicate utilizing an interface arranged between the operator control unit and the outdoor power equipment machine, and when secured to the outdoor power equipment machine, the operator control unit is located at a height that is within about an arm's length or less of an operator standing immediately adjacent to the outdoor power equipment machine.

Abstract: A riding outdoor power equipment vehicle, such as for grounds maintenance, having a chassis including a support area, an operator platform for supporting a rider and supported by the chassis, and a suspension assembly. The suspension assembly is configured to resist movement of the operator platform towards the support area of the chassis and includes a biasing element having a plurality of annular portions. At least two annular portions of the plurality of annular portions are spaced apart from one another when the biasing element is in a default orientation and are moved into engagement with one another upon compression of the biasing element between the operator platform and the support area. Compression of the biasing element provides an initial deflection response that decreases substantially in response to increasing loading being applied to the operator platform.

Abstract: A non-rotatable shaft/hub connection, providing a shaft having a tapered end and a bore, the tapered end having at least two angled faces; a hub having a tapered opening and an aperture, wherein the tapered opening is configured to receive the tapered end, the tapered opening provides at least two tapered portions. The non-rotatable shaft/hub connection provides an anti-backlash shaft/hub interface, having a shaft adapted to be rotatably driven about an axis of rotation, the shaft having a tapered end providing a tapered, double-D configuration; and a hub, having an opening configured to receive the double-D configuration of the tapered end.

Abstract: A three-stage snow thrower having a housing, a power supply operatively connected to said housing, a longitudinal drive shaft extending from the power supply into the housing, and a lateral drive shaft extending rotatably attached to opposing side walls of the housing and being meshingly engaged with the longitudinal drive shaft within a gear assembly. The power supply drives the longitudinal drive shaft, thereby causing the longitudinal drive shaft to rotate, and at least a portion of such rotation is transferred to the lateral drive via a gear assembly. The first stage assembly includes a plurality of augers attached to the lateral drive shaft, wherein the first stage assembly pushes loosened snow axially toward the gear assembly. The second stage assembly includes at least one auger attached to the longitudinal drive shaft, wherein the second stage assembly pushes the snow from the first stage assembly axially rearward in a transverse manner relative to the first stage assembly.

Abstract: A handle fastening coupling, preferably for household and gardening implements comprises a guide piece (12) that is pressed into a handle-tube end and has an elongated guide channel (14) for a handle insert pin (3), which has a first end fastened to the implement and second free end, wherein the second end has a lock opening (6); and a locking element (20) that is preloaded by a latch spring (18) in a first radial direction perpendicular to the handle axis and that is designed to snap into the lock opening of the handle insert pin, wherein the locking element can be moved out of the lock opening in the radial direction by an operating button in order to release the handle insert pin (3) to pull it out of the guide channel.