Control-by-wire system for a walk-behind self-propelled machine, lawnmower including same, and method

A walk-behind lawnmower comprising:

• a cutter housing;
• a blade rotatably supported in the cutter housing;
• a power source mounted on the cutter housing and configured to selectively rotate the blade;
• a plurality of wheels supporting the cutter housing;
• a handle connected to the cutter housing and extending away from the cutter housing;
• a drive assembly mounted to the cutter housing, connected to at least one of the wheels, and configured to selectively drive the at least one wheel;
• and
• a control-by-wire system in electrical communication with the drive assembly and including,
• a user input structure located on the handle and configured to transmit a plurality of different electrical control signals,
• a touch sensor mounted on the handle and configured to transmit a contact signal indicative of an operator of the walk-behind lawnmower physically contacting a predetermined location on the handle, and
• a controller in electrical communication with each of the user input structure and the touch sensor, the controller is configured to,
• cause the power source to rotate the blade when the controller receives the contact signal and based on which of the electrical control signals the controller receives, and
• transmit a drive control signal to the drive assembly based on which of the electrical control signals the controller receives.

A method for controlling a walk-behind self-propelled machine comprising:

• electronically sensing a presence of an operator grasping a handle of the walk-behind self-propelled machine;
• enabling a power source to drive an implement of the walk-behind self-propelled machine when the presence of the operator is sensed electronically;
• displaying a ready signal to the operator when the presence of the operator is sensed electronically;
• moving the implement when the operator inputs an electronic drive command in response to the ready signal;
• and
• terminating movement of the implement when electronically sensing the absence of the operator grasping the handle or when the operator inputs an electronic stop command.