Vehicle drive and control system

A drive and control system to drive first and second traction wheels disposed on opposite sides of a lawn tractor, the drive and control system comprising:

• a CAN-Bus network;
• a vehicle controller comprising a microprocessor and memory and operable to receive a plurality of analog input signals and a plurality of digital input signals from one or more components of the lawn tractor and to transmit digital output signals via the CAN-Bus network to the one or more components of the lawn tractor;
• first and second drive systems disposed on the lawn tractor and comprising:
• (a) a first electric transaxle comprising a first electric drive motor driven by a battery and a first output axle connected to the first traction wheel;
• (b) a second electric transaxle comprising a second electric drive motor driven by the battery and a second output axle connected to the second traction wheel;
• (c) a first electronic drive controller comprising a first drive controller processor and a first drive controller memory for controlling an output speed and direction of rotation of the first output axle, wherein the first electronic drive controller is coupled to the first electric transaxle;
• and
• (d) a second electronic drive controller comprising a second drive controller processor and a second drive controller memory for controlling an output speed and direction of rotation of the second output axle, wherein the second electronic drive controller is coupled to the second electric transaxle;
• first and second input levers for receiving user input regarding desired speed and direction of motion of the lawn tractor;
• first and second lever sensors coupled to respective first and second lever processors for detecting position and movement of the first and second input levers, the first and second lever processors operable to post on the CAN-Bus network first and second lever signals corresponding to the position and movement of the respective first and second input levers;
• wherein the vehicle controller is configured to process the first and second lever signals and post on the CAN-Bus network first and second digital drive signals configured to correspond to the desired speed and direction of motion of the lawn tractor,
• wherein the first and second electronic drive controllers are each configured to process the respective first and second digital drive signals and convert the respective first and second digital drive signals to appropriate first and second drive motor signals to drive the first and second electric drive motors to obtain the desired speed and direction of motion of the lawn tractor.