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: 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.

Abstract: A control system including a drive system and a blade system; a collision sensor; a main board having a main processor and in communication with the collision sensor, the drive system, and the blade system; the collision sensor, upon sensing a collision, capable of transmitting a collision signal to the main processor; the main board capable of transmitting an adjustment command to the drive system or the blade system; a vision sensor; a vision processor in communication with the vision sensor and the main processor, and capable of determining whether the image data represent an obstacle; the vision sensor capable of transmitting image data to the vision processor; when the vision processor determines the image data represent an obstacle, the vision processor capable of transmitting a collision-replicating signal to the main processor, prompting the main board to transmit the adjustment command to the drive system and/or the blade system.

Abstract: A lawn vehicle network including a lawn vehicle including a movement mechanism and at least one rotatable blade, a circuit capable of residing on the lawn vehicle, a sensor associated with the lawn vehicle and capable of sensing at least one characteristic of the lawn vehicle, a data packet representative of the at least one characteristic of the lawn vehicle, a transmitter connected to the circuit and to a computing device, the transmitter capable of transmitting the data packet to the computing device, the computing device connected to a speaker, the speaker capable of outputting an audible command representing the at least one characteristic of the lawn vehicle.

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.

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 control system including a drive system and a blade system; a collision sensor; a main board having a main processor and in communication with the collision sensor, the drive system, and the blade system; the collision sensor, upon sensing a collision, capable of transmitting a collision signal to the main processor; the main board capable of transmitting an adjustment command to the drive system or the blade system; a vision sensor; a vision processor in communication with the vision sensor and the main processor, and capable of determining whether the image data represent an obstacle; the vision sensor capable of transmitting image data to the vision processor; when the vision processor determines the image data represent an obstacle, the vision processor capable of transmitting a collision-replicating signal to the main processor, prompting the main board to transmit the adjustment command to the drive system and/or the blade system.

Abstract: A drive and control system for a lawn tractor includes a CAN-Bus network, a vehicle controller, a pair of hydrostatic or electric transaxles controlled by respective electronic drive controllers, and one or more steering and drive input devices coupled to respective sensor(s) for sensing user steering and drive inputs. The vehicle controller communicates with one or more vehicle sensors and one or more vehicle controllers that control one or more vehicle components via the CAN-Bus network. The vehicle controller processes the user's steering and drive inputs and posts on the CAN-Bus network digital drive signals configured to obtain the desired speed and direction of motion of the lawn tractor. The electronic drive controllers convert the digital drive signals to appropriate signals for driving the hydrostatic transaxles or the electric transaxles, as equipped, based on tunable motion parameters to obtain the desired speed and direction of motion of the lawn tractor.

Abstract: A drive and control system for a lawn tractor includes one or more sensors configured to detect an operational parameter of an aspect of the vehicle, and one or more controllers for controlling one or more components of the vehicle and for receiving data output from the one or more sensors. The controller communicates with the one or more sensors and one or more vehicle modules configured to control one or more vehicle components via a CAN Bus network. The controller may be coupled to an IMU mounted on the vehicle for dynamically controlling the vehicle on sloped terrain, for example. The controller may be accessible from a remote device over a wireless network for communicating setup, diagnostic, and performance data to and from the vehicle.

Abstract: A drive and control system for a lawn tractor includes a CAN-Bus network, a vehicle controller, a pair of hydrostatic or electric transaxles controlled by respective electronic drive controllers, and one or more steering and drive input devices coupled to respective sensor(s) for sensing user steering and drive inputs. The vehicle controller communicates with one or more vehicle sensors and one or more vehicle controllers that control one or more vehicle components via the CAN-Bus network. The vehicle controller processes the user's steering and drive inputs and posts on the CAN-Bus network digital drive signals configured to obtain the desired speed and direction of motion of the lawn tractor. The electronic drive controllers convert the digital drive signals to appropriate signals for driving the hydrostatic transaxles or the electric transaxles, as equipped, based on tunable motion parameters to obtain the desired speed and direction of motion of the lawn tractor.

Abstract: An electric actuator for use with a variable drive apparatus is disclosed herein. The electric 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 cylindrical diametric magnet positioned on the end of a control shaft of a hydrostatic drive unit. The circuit board includes a microprocessor, electric motor power control and CAN Bus communication capability. The gear housing of the electric actuator features an integral end cap to accommodate mounting of the electric motor to enable a compact design.

Abstract: A lawn tractor includes one or more sensors configured to detect an operational parameter of an aspect of the vehicle, and one or more controllers for controlling one or more components of the vehicle and for receiving data output from the one or more sensors. The controller communicates with the one or more sensors and one or more vehicle modules configured to control one or more vehicle components via a CAN Bus network. The controller may be coupled to an IMU mounted on the vehicle for dynamically controlling the vehicle on sloped terrain, for example. The controller may be accessible from a remote device over a wireless network for communicating setup, diagnostic, and performance data to and from the vehicle.