Hydro-gear Limited Partnership

Control Solutions LLC

Alyn G Brown

Jesse L Probst

K Mike McCoy

Scott W Keller

Damon J Hoyda

Gregory Barton Moebs

Gregory E Arends

Joseph Hamilton

James Wiff

David H Dunten

John Tyler Hibbard

Raymond M Hauser

Anthony Joseph Lapp

Ivan Eugene Fox

Jake Siudyla

Nathan W Bonny

Krzysztof Grzyb

John E Hayden

Nick Scholtes

Brett Walach

Roy Kell

A lawn mower having a control system, and a pair of driven wheels and a pair of electric motors for zero turn capabilities, is disclosed. The lawn mower has a steering wheel having a neutral wheel position. The control system includes one or more first sensors configured to collect orientation data of the lawn mower, a position sensor configured to detect a position of the steering wheel, memory for storing a target heading of the lawn mower, and a processor. The processor is configured to determine the target heading based on the position of the steering wheel, determine a current heading of the lawn mower based on the orientation data collected by the one or more first sensors, and transmit a course correction signal for at least one of the pair of electric motors based on a comparison between the current heading and the target heading.

Stability control system

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.

Electric transaxle with integral power generating device

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.

Vehicle drive and control system

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.

Automatic performance learning system for utility vehicles

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.

Lawn tractor with electronic drive and control system

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.

Method of generating a three-dimensional map of a lawn and its use to improve mowing efficiency

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.

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.

Control system for a vehicle

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.

A vehicle drive and control system includes an input shaft driven by a prime mover and extending into a housing to drive a generator. An electric motor powered by the generator drives an output axle, which may be a single axle extending out one side of the housing, or a through shaft extending through the electric motor and out both sides of the housing. The input shaft may be parallel to the axle. A power controller is configured to back-drive the generator when certain predetermined conditions are met. A motor controller may control an output of the motor based on input received via an operator control device, and the motor controller is configured to operate the motor as a generator under certain operating conditions. The transaxle includes a common housing in which the power generator, the motor, and controllers for the generator and electric motor are disposed.

A system provided for use with a lawn mower includes a processor in communication with the lawn mower. The processor is configured to acquire geographic location data of the lawn mower and mapping data for the lawn mower as the lawn mower operates on the plot of land. The processor is configured to acquire performance data of the lawn mower as the lawn mower operates on the plot of land according to a first path and generate a map of the plot of land at least partially based on the geographic location data and the mapping data. The processor is configured to determine an operational efficiency of the lawn mower according to the first path and determine a second path for the lawn mower that increases the operational efficiency of the lawn mower for operating on the plot of land.

Vision based guidance system and method for lawn mowing devices are disclosed. An exemplary method for operating an autonomous lawn mower includes receiving, via a receiver, a perimeter data set from a handheld computer. The perimeter data set includes a perimeter outline of at least one perimeter that is determined utilizing a GPS unit of the handheld computer. The exemplary method also includes collecting, via at least one camera, images of a set area within the perimeter outline and mowing, via a mowing blade, grass within the set area. The exemplary method also includes autonomously steering, via a controller, the autonomous lawn mower based on the perimeter outline of the at least one perimeter and the images captured by the at least one camera.

Growing community of inventors

Indianapolis, IN, United States of America

Alyn G Brown