Tracked vehicle with steering compensation

A pilot control module for a tracked vehicle, the tracked vehicle having a pair of tracks movable independent of one another to cause movement of the tracked vehicle and a pair of drive pedals, wherein the pair of drive pedals are configured to provide a drive input to the pair of tracks to effectuate movement of the tracked vehicle, the tracked vehicle also including a joystick for controlling a function of the tracked vehicle, the pilot control module comprising:

• a dual track drive pedal, the dual track drive pedal configured to provide a drive input to both tracks of the pair of tracks simultaneously;
• a pair of pressure transducers, the pair of pressure transducers configured to detect the input signal from the joystick of the tracked vehicle;
• a controller, the dual track drive pedal and pair of pressure transducers coupled to the controller, the controller receiving an input signal from the dual track drive pedal and input signals from the pair of pressure transducers;
• a plurality of solenoid operated valves in fluid communication with a hydraulic drive system of the tracked vehicle, the plurality of solenoid operated valves controlled by the controller such that the controller provides outputs signal to select ones of the plurality of solenoid operated valves to set an operational position of said select ones of the plurality of solenoid operated valves based on the input signals received from the dual track drive pedal and from the pressure transducers.

A method of installing a pilot control module in a tracked vehicle, the tracked vehicle having a pair of tracks movable independent of one another to cause movement of the tracked vehicle and a pair of drive pedals, wherein the pair of drive pedals are configured to provide a drive input to the pair of tracks to effectuate movement of the tracked vehicle, the tracked vehicle also including a joystick for controlling a function of the tracked vehicle, the method comprising:

• installing a pair of pressure transducers such that they detect a pressure input generated by a movement of the joystick and produce a corresponding input signal;
• installing a controller, said controller operably connected to the pair of pressure transducers to receive the input signal produced by said pressure transducers;
• associating the controller with a dual track drive pedal, said dual track drive pedal operably connected to the controller such that the controller receives an input signal produced by said dual track drive pedal;
• and
• installing a plurality of solenoid operated valves such that the solenoid operated valves are in fluid communication with a hydraulic drive system of the tracked vehicle, wherein the plurality of solenoid operated valves are in fluid communication with a main control valve of the tracked vehicle for controlling a distribution of hydraulic fluid power to each one of the pair of tracks from the hydraulic drive system such that manipulation of the joystick produces a steering movement in the pair of tracks.