Abstract: A fleet management system is provided for outdoor power equipment and is, in some embodiments, configured to estimate operator performance and/or skill for a particular operator based at least partially on engine speed data sensed during the particular operator's use of one or more pieces of equipment. Embodiments of the invention also provide an apparatus configured to receive data comprising RPM values of a rotating component of a piece of outdoor power equipment sampled throughout a period of operation of the piece of outdoor power equipment, and further configured to generate a RPM histogram for a particular operator and/or for a particular piece of outdoor power equipment in order to use the RPM histogram to determine additional information about the particular operator, the particular piece of equipment, and/or the particular period of operation.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a fleet management system that assists a fleet, such as a landscaping crew, forestry company, grounds care manager, or the like, with management and monitoring the fleet's collection of outdoor power equipment, like lawn mowers, trimmers, chainsaws, and/or the like, and the operators of the outdoor power equipment. In this regard, embodiments of the invention are directed to systems and methods for automatically gathering data about one or more pieces of outdoor power equipment and one or more human operators of the equipment, processing the data into more useful data and data formats, and providing useful feedback, data, and tools to users of the system to assist with management of one or more fleets.

Abstract: A method of controlling operation of a hand held power tool may include receiving information indicative of a type of cutting equipment attached to the hand held power tool (100) based on operation of a working assembly (130) in a selected direction of rotation. The working assembly (130) may be configured to be bi-directionally rotatable to perform a cutting function using cutting equipment attachable to the hand held power tool (100). The method may further include determining the type of cutting equipment attached based on the received information, and selectively inserting an operational constraint on the working assembly based on the type of cutting equipment and a selected direction of rotation for the working assembly.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to an equipment data sensor arranged on a powered machine. The equipment data sensor includes a processing device coupled to one or more sensors for obtaining values of at least one parameter associated with running of the powered machine, a memory, and a short range transceiver configured for wireless short range communication arranged to receive short distance communication signals, wherein the processing device is configured to register, in the memory, one or more values of the at least one parameter and an associated operator identifier received over the short range transceiver.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a fleet management system that assists with management and monitoring fleets of powered machines and their operators, such as fleets engaged in landscaping, grounds care, and forestry service. In this regard, embodiments of the invention are directed to systems and methods for automatically gathering data about one or more pieces of outdoor power equipment and one or more human operators of the equipment, processing the data into more useful data and data formats, and providing useful feedback, data, and tools to users of the system via, for example, a web portal that either assists users with management of a fleet of equipment and operators or provides useful information to owner-operators of outdoor power equipment about their performance and their machines.

Abstract: A method for automatically pairing one or more operators with one or more pieces of equipment where each of the one or more operators carries an identification unit having an identification code stored therein, and where each piece of equipment includes an equipment data sensor configured to wirelessly receive the identification code in any identification units within a particular range may include receiving a plurality of different identification codes in data received from a particular equipment data sensor where for each of the different identification codes the data comprises signal information about strength or frequency of the one or more wireless signals through which each identification code was received by the particular equipment data sensor, and determining an operator of the equipment associated with the particular equipment data sensor based at least in part on a comparison of the signal information associated with each identification code.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed a data communication system and method for a fleet management system configured to assist with monitoring and managing a fleet of one or more powered machines and one or more human operators.

Abstract: A method of controlling operation of a hand held power tool may include receiving information indicative of a type of cutting equipment attached to the hand held power tool (100) based on operation of a working assembly (130) in a selected direction of rotation. The working assembly (130) may be configured to be bi-directionally rotatable to perform a cutting function using cutting equipment attachable to the hand held power tool (100). The method may further include determining the type of cutting equipment attached based on the received information, and selectively inserting an operational constraint on the working assembly based on the type of cutting equipment and a selected direction of rotation for the working assembly.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed a data communication system and method for a fleet management system configured to assist with monitoring and managing a fleet of one or more powered machines and one or more human operators.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to an equipment data sensor arranged on a powered machine. The equipment data sensor includes a processing device coupled to one or more sensors for obtaining values of at least one parameter associated with running of the powered machine, a memory, and a short range transceiver configured for wireless short range communication arranged to receive short distance communication signals, wherein the processing device is configured to register, in the memory, one or more values of the at least one parameter and an associated operator identifier received over the short range transceiver.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a fleet management system that assists a fleet, such as a landscaping crew, forestry company, grounds care manager, or the like, with management and monitoring the fleet's collection of outdoor power equipment, like lawn mowers, trimmers, chainsaws, and/or the like, and the operators of the outdoor power equipment. In this regard, embodiments of the invention are directed to systems and methods for automatically gathering data about one or more pieces of outdoor power equipment and one or more human operators of the equipment, processing the data into more useful data and data formats, and providing useful feedback, data, and tools to users of the system to assist with management of one or more fleets.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a fleet management system that assists with management and monitoring fleets of powered machines and their operators, such as fleets engaged in landscaping, grounds care, and forestry service. In this regard, embodiments of the invention are directed to systems and methods for automatically gathering data about one or more pieces of outdoor power equipment and one or more human operators of the equipment, processing the data into more useful data and data formats, and providing useful feedback, data, and tools to users of the system via, for example, a web portal that either assists users with management of a fleet of equipment and operators or provides useful information to owner-operators of outdoor power equipment about their performance and their machines.

Abstract: A fleet management system is provided for outdoor power equipment and is, in some embodiments, configured to estimate operator performance and/or skill for a particular operator based at least partially on engine speed data sensed during the particular operator's use of one or more pieces of equipment. Embodiments of the invention also provide an apparatus configured to receive data comprising RPM values of a rotating component of a piece of outdoor power equipment sampled throughout a period of operation of the piece of outdoor power equipment, and further configured to generate a RPM histogram for a particular operator and/or for a particular piece of outdoor power equipment in order to use the RPM histogram to determine additional information about the particular operator, the particular piece of equipment, and/or the particular period of operation.

Abstract: A method for automatically pairing one or more operators with one or more pieces of equipment where each of the one or more operators carries an identification unit having an identification code stored therein, and where each piece of equipment includes an equipment data sensor configured to wirelessly receive the identification code in any identification units within a particular range may include receiving a plurality of different identification codes in data received from a particular equipment data sensor where for each of the different identification codes the data comprises signal information about strength or frequency of the one or more wireless signals through which each identification code was received by the particular equipment data sensor, and determining an operator of the equipment associated with the particular equipment data sensor based at least in part on a comparison of the signal information associated with each identification code.