Interactive sensor, communications, and control system for a utility vehicle
First Claim
1. A drive and monitoring system for controlling and monitoring the operation of a mower, the drive and monitoring system comprising:
- a first electric transaxle driving a first driven wheel and a second electric transaxle driving a second driven wheel;
a first traction controller operatively connected to the first electric transaxle;
a first drive lever connected to a first control assembly, wherein the first control assembly is operatively connected to the first traction controller and communicates a position of the first drive lever to the first traction controller;
a second traction controller operatively connected to the second electric transaxle;
a second drive lever connected to a second control assembly, wherein the second control assembly is operatively connected to the second traction controller and communicates a position of the second drive lever to the second traction controller;
a power take off disposed on the mower and comprising a plurality of blades for cutting grass or other vegetation;
a plurality of sensors disposed on the mower and capable of acquiring operational data of the mower;
an onboard processor in communication with the plurality of sensors, the first control assembly and the second control assembly, the onboard processor housed in a ruggedized casing and comprising a transceiver configured to communicate with a mobile device via a wireless personal area network (WPAN) to transmit real-time streaming of the operational data to the mobile device; and
a far range electronic device configured to communicate with the mobile device via a cellular network, the far range electronic device configured to receive the real-time streaming of the operational data from the mobile device and transmit, in real-time, a command signal to the onboard processor via the mobile device to instruct the onboard processor to limit the mower to a speed that is based on the operational data.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A monitoring system is provided for a utility vehicle, and particularly, a zero turn radius type utility vehicle such as a lawnmower. The monitoring system includes an onboard processor and one or more sensors that are in communication with the onboard processor, to report various sensed parameters of the utility vehicle to the processor. The processor includes a transmitter for transmitting information that is processed by the processor to a near range electronic communication device. The near range electronic device includes a processor for further processing information received from the onboard processor. The near range electronic device also includes a transmitter that is capable of transmitting information to a far range electronic device, such as a remote computer, for providing the sensed information to a remote monitor.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A drive and monitoring system for controlling and monitoring the operation of a mower, the drive and monitoring system comprising:
-
a first electric transaxle driving a first driven wheel and a second electric transaxle driving a second driven wheel; a first traction controller operatively connected to the first electric transaxle; a first drive lever connected to a first control assembly, wherein the first control assembly is operatively connected to the first traction controller and communicates a position of the first drive lever to the first traction controller; a second traction controller operatively connected to the second electric transaxle; a second drive lever connected to a second control assembly, wherein the second control assembly is operatively connected to the second traction controller and communicates a position of the second drive lever to the second traction controller; a power take off disposed on the mower and comprising a plurality of blades for cutting grass or other vegetation; a plurality of sensors disposed on the mower and capable of acquiring operational data of the mower; an onboard processor in communication with the plurality of sensors, the first control assembly and the second control assembly, the onboard processor housed in a ruggedized casing and comprising a transceiver configured to communicate with a mobile device via a wireless personal area network (WPAN) to transmit real-time streaming of the operational data to the mobile device; and a far range electronic device configured to communicate with the mobile device via a cellular network, the far range electronic device configured to receive the real-time streaming of the operational data from the mobile device and transmit, in real-time, a command signal to the onboard processor via the mobile device to instruct the onboard processor to limit the mower to a speed that is based on the operational data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification