Abstract: A tuned mass damper includes a damper mass having a first mass portion and a second mass portion connected by a third mass portion. The first mass portion, the second mass portion, and the third mass portion form a U-shaped configuration of the damper mass. The damper mass is configured to separate within the third mass portion in response to a force transferred to the damper mass of the tuned mass damper to allow relative motion between the first mass portion and the second mass portion. The damper mass may include geometric features that promote rotation of the tuned mass damper relative to an axis, when subjected to impact loads.

Abstract: A wheel-driven vehicle (1), comprising a front vehicle unit (1 A), a rear vehicle unit (1B), a power source (4), a first centre beam (8) and a second centre beam (9), a first driving means (10) and a second driving means (11) provided on each opposite sides of the first centre beam (8), a third driving means (13) and a fourth driving means (14), provided on opposite sides of the second centre beam (9), wherein the respective driving means (10, 11, 13, 14) comprises at least a driving wheel (16), a power-transmitting arrangement for transmission of power from said power source (4) to the driving wheel (16) that is included in each of the driving means (10, 11, 13, 14), wherein the power-transmitting arrangement comprises an engine (19) and a transmitting arrangement (20).

Abstract: A method, for a trailer brake control device of a vehicle trailer with an electric drive, includes receiving at least one acceleration request signal with a requested positive acceleration or a requested negative acceleration and further receiving a status signal with at least one status variable of the electric drive of the vehicle trailer. The method also includes generating, with a controller of the trailer brake control device, at least one brake actuation signal for at least one friction brake of the vehicle trailer and a torque request signal for the electric drive, each based on the at least one acceleration request signal and the status signal. Furthermore, the method includes outputting the brake actuation signal and the torque request signal via at least one output and/or at least one interface of the trailer brake control device.

Abstract: A trailer for a vehicle with a high voltage traction-battery. The trailer may be a self-propelled trailer to substantially match vehicle dynamics and minimize impact on the vehicle. Alternatively, the trailer may push the vehicle to simulate hill descent, or drag on the vehicle to simulate hill ascent. The trailer may provide power for the vehicle. The trailer may provide current to a vehicle electric machine. The trailer may also provide current to recharge a vehicle traction-battery. The trailer may also recharge its own traction-battery.

Abstract: A motorized vehicle assembly having a frame, a seat supported by the frame, and one or more wheels in communication with the frame, where the frame may have a central plane extending therethrough. The motorized vehicle assembly may include a first wheel and a second wheel in communication with the frame and configured to rotate about a wheel axis, where the first wheel and the second wheel may be positioned asymmetrically with respect to the central plane of the frame. A weight may be supported by the frame and the weight may be positioned at least partially offset toward a second side of the central plane of the frame. The seat may include a cut-in portion supported by a first side of the central plane of the frame. The motorized vehicle assembly may be a powered wheelchair.

Abstract: Systems for controlling the speed and direction of vehicles such as tractors, including vehicles that have low to zero turning radius capability. Systems include steering and speed coordination systems that control the direction and speed of rotation of vehicle drive units.

Abstract: A riding lawn care vehicle may include: (a) a frame to which a pair of front wheels and a rear wheel assembly of the riding lawn care vehicle are attachable; (b) an engine mounted to the frame substantially between the front wheels; (c) a steering assembly having steering levers operably coupled to respective ones of the front wheels of the riding lawn care vehicle via respective hydrostatic drive pumps driven by the engine; (d) a support platform coupled to the frame rearward of the engine to support a standing rider; and (e) a front mount assembly configured to detachably couple the riding lawn care vehicle to an attachment that enables performance of a yard maintenance activity, where (f) a majority of the support platform is disposed rearward of an axis of rotation of the front wheels and forward of an axis of rotation of the rear wheel assembly.

Abstract: An occurrence of steering clutch slippage is reliably determined in order to protect the steering clutch. A crawler work vehicle includes left and right steering clutches, left and right steering brakes, a rotation speed detecting difference device, a clutch hydraulic pressure obtaining device, and a clutch protecting device. The rotation speed difference detecting device detects a rotation speed difference between the input and output of each of the steering clutches. The clutch hydraulic pressure obtaining device obtains a clutch hydraulic pressure supplied to each steering clutch. The clutch protecting device refers to the rotation speed difference and the clutch hydraulic pressure, computes a steering clutch heat rate, and compares the computed heat rate with a preset first threshold to execute a steering clutch protection process.

Abstract: A zero-turn utility vehicle includes a frame, a pair of drive wheels disposed proximate to the front end of the frame, a rear wheel disposed proximate to the rear end of the frame, a prime mover supported by the frame above the drive wheels, the prime mover configured to power the drive wheels, a seat supported by the central structure, the seat disposed between the prime mover and the rear end, the seat configured to support a user facing towards the front end in a normal operating position, a pair of footrests located on opposite sides of the seat, a tool attachment coupled to the frame and powered by the prime mover, and user controls configured to operate the drive wheels, wherein each of the drive wheels may be operated independently with the user controls.

Abstract: There is provided a motorized cycle comprising a frame, a seat, handle bars and a plurality of suspensions mounted to the frame, a plurality of wheels each coupled to one of the plurality of suspensions, one or more motors connected to the wheels causing the wheels to rotate and a control mechanism to independently control the one or more motors in response to a side-to-side and a front-to-back tilt of the motorized cycle. There is also provided a control system for operating a motorized cycle comprising a control board including software, a plurality of sensors providing inputs to the control board, a plurality of motors receiving instruction from the control board wherein the software maintains the center of gravity of the cycle in both a side-to-side and front-to-back direction by instructing the motors to accelerate or decelerate.

Abstract: Systems for controlling the speed and direction of vehicles such as tractors, including vehicles that have low to zero turning radius capability. Systems include steering and speed coordination systems that control the direction and speed of rotation of vehicle drive units.

Abstract: Vehicles with open loop hydraulic steering systems may suffer from jerky steering due to the necessity to have safety valves in the open loop system to prevent uncontrolled vehicle movement. Traditional open loop steering arrangements allow steering by controlling fluid quantities flowing from the pump to the drive motors. The disclosed vehicle has an open loop hydraulic drive system including first and second variable displacement motors for driving ground engaging mechanisms at first and second sides of the vehicle, respectively. The system includes a control mechanism configured for steering the vehicle by changing the displacement of one of the first and second motors. This allows the operator to change the drive motor speed range during travel.

Abstract: A method and system are described for calibrating speed controls for a vehicle having a pair of drive means on opposite sides of the vehicle driven by independent speed controls and where relative speed of the drive means is used to direct the vehicle. In one aspect, angular motion of the vehicle is detected using at least one of a gyroscopic angular sensor and a pair of accelerometers to determine a rate of yaw; a speed control output for controlling the relative speed is adjusted so that the rate of yaw is lower than a threshold when speed control inputs for controlling the relative speed are equal; and one or more speed control adjustment parameters are determined and stored for use during operation for controlling the relative speed of the drive means. A microcontroller may be used to receive sensor outputs (e.g. from the gyroscope and/or accelerometers) and speed control inputs and to determine the speed control adjustment.

Abstract: A vehicle with a omni-directional cab having a circular frame revolvably coupled to a chassis having an axle, wheels and passenger seats. Two independent drive wheels located on an axis through the center of the cab are mounted at the same distance from a central vertical axis through the cab. Each wheel is powered independently and can rotate at variable speeds in either direction. The cab is capable of movement in any direction by rotating the axis of the drive wheels to a position which is perpendicular to the desired direction of travel. The cab can spin about its vertical axis such that the axis of the drive wheels can be oriented at any direction without changing the original footprint of the space that the frame occupies over the ground. Thus, the combined cab/chassis assembly can rotate about the vertical midpoint of the chassis axle.

Abstract: A steering control apparatus is provided, including a steering wheel, steered wheels, a direction varying actuator to operate the steering control wheels, a steering reaction actuator to apply steering reaction torque to the steering wheel and steering controller. The steered wheels are mechanically disconnected from the steering wheel. The steering controller outputs control commands for controlling the direction varying actuator and the steering reaction actuator.

Abstract: A vehicle including a steer-by-wire type steering device controlling yaw moment of the vehicle in correspondence with an operation of a steering wheel mechanically separated from each of wheels. The wheels are configured such that a steered angle cannot be changed. The steering device has a power distribution device capable of changing a distribution rate of power applied to each of the wheels, and a braking force control device capable of separately controlling a braking force for each of the wheels. The steering device controls a yaw moment of the vehicle by separately controlling the power applied to each of the wheels and the braking force in each of the wheels.

Abstract: A powered omni-directional security, patrol and surveillance vehicle that includes a circular frame and two drive wheels capable of independent powered forward and rearward rotation about a horizontal axis. The drive wheels are adapted to allow the vehicle to spin in place about a vertical axis which intersects the horizontal axis midway between the drive wheels and which is generally centered in the circular frame. An observation platform including an operators control station is mounted to the frame on a lift such that it is capable of selective elevation for superior vantage points. A cab preferably encloses the operator's station. A plurality of swivel casters disposed on distal ends of telescopic outrigger arms are circumpositioned about the circular frame.

Abstract: An active rear-wheel vehicle steering control system that employs both open-loop and closed-loop control, where the open-loop and closed-loop control include adaptive compensation sub-systems that compensate for changes in vehicle dynamic parameters. The control system includes a dynamic parameter estimation sub-system that provides an estimated front-wheel cornering compliance and rear-wheel cornering compliance based on a front-wheel steering angle signal, a rear-wheel steering angle signal, a vehicle lateral acceleration signal, a vehicle yaw rate signal and a vehicle speed signal. The closed-loop control includes active gain for each of vehicle yaw rate, vehicle yaw rate acceleration, side-slip velocity and side-slip velocity rate, all based on the vehicle speed and vehicle dynamic parameter changes.

Abstract: A tracked vehicle with a drive system, which performs driving, braking, directional change, and steering functions as a function of corresponding control commands from an electronic control unit. According to the invention, at least one separate brake system, which operates without current, is provided, which can be enabled by at least one actuating element, which also acts in the absence of current, when a function parameter exceeds or falls below at least one limit value.

Abstract: A lawn tractor vehicle having a front mounted engine and a drive and steer type of transmission having vehicle components supported by the vehicle frame in such a manner to establish a weight distribution between the front and rear pairs of wheels that allows the effective use of a drive and steer type of transmission with a lawn tractor having a front mounted engine, and which enhances the performance, stability and handling of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle is driven by a central track assembly and differential speed steering wheels in flanking relation thereto.