Electronic controller and turf maintenance vehicle incorporating same

A method for controlling a turf maintenance vehicle, the method comprising:

• actuating an engine speed selection switch from an off state to an on state;
• changing an engine speed command, generated by an electronic controller (EC) in communication with an engine of the vehicle, to a preset engine speed, the preset engine speed being independent of an engine speed prior to actuating the engine speed selection switch;
• measuring an actuation time that the switch remains in the on state;
• communicating the actuation time to the EC;
• comparing, with the EC, the actuation time to a predetermined step interval;
• determining a number of expired step intervals occurring within the actuation time;
• and
• changing the engine speed command from the preset engine speed by a predetermined increment for each expired step interval.

A method for controlling a turf maintenance vehicle, the method comprising:

• actuating an engine speed selection switch from an off state to an on state;
• communicating a signal to an electronic controller (EC) indicating that the engine speed selection switch is in the on state, the EC in communication with an engine of the vehicle;
• generating, with the EC, a first engine speed command corresponding to a preset engine speed in response to the EC receiving the signal indicating that the engine speed selection switch is in the on state, wherein the preset engine speed is independent of an engine speed prior to actuating the engine speed selection switch;
• measuring an actuation time that the engine speed selection switch remains in the on state;
• communicating the actuation time to the EC;
• comparing, with the EC, the actuation time to a predetermined step interval;
• and
• generating, with the EC, a revised engine speed command each time the actuation time exceeds a multiple of the step interval, the revised engine speed command being lower than a preceding engine speed command by a predetermined value.