Electric driver for wheeled ground surface modifying machine

A battery powered driver for propelling a wheeled ground surface modifying machine, the driver comprising:

• at least one wheel contacting a ground surface;
• a battery powered electric motor;
• at least one pedal actuatable through a range;
• and
• at least one pedal sensor configured to output one or more signals indicating a degree of actuation of the at least one pedal within the range;
• and
• control circuitry configured to receive the one or more signals, receive a constant speed level, and manage delivery of electrical battery power to the electric motor to control a speed of the driver;
• wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
• control the electric motor to accelerate the driver forward based on the one or more signals indicating actuation of the pedal within a first portion of the range, the power delivered to the electric motor for forward acceleration proportional to the degree of actuation of the at least one pedal through the first portion of the range such that the speed of the driver is variable based on the degree of actuation of the pedal within the first portion of the range;
• and
• control the electric motor to accelerate the driver forward to the constant speed level based on the one or more signals indicating actuation of the pedal to a second portion of the range, wherein the second portion of the range is distinct from the first portion of the range, and the second portion of the range corresponds with further actuation of the at least one pedal with respect to the first portion of the range;
• and
• wherein the control circuitry is configured to operate in:
• a first mode in which the power delivered to the electric motor for forward acceleration is proportional to the degree of actuation of the at least one pedal through the first portion of the range and the second portion of the range such that the speed of the driver is variable based on the degree of actuation of the at least one pedal through the first portion of the range and the second portion of the range;
• and
• a second mode in which the power delivered to the electric motor for forward acceleration is proportional to the degree of actuation of the at least one pedal through the first portion of the range, but not the second portion of the range, such that the speed of the driver is variable based on the degree of actuation of the at least one pedal within the first portion of the range while the control circuitry causes the operator to maintain the predetermined constant speed when the at least one pedal is actuated to within the second portion of the range.

A method of operating a battery powered driver of a ground surface modifying machine in a speed control mode, the method comprising:

• engaging the speed control mode;
• selecting a forward speed set point;
• actuating a pedal of the driver in a forward direction into a forward angular range;
• actuating the pedal through a forward speed range associated with the forward angular range to accelerate the driver forward, the power delivered to the electric motor for forward acceleration proportional to a degree of actuation of the pedal within the forward speed range;
• and
• actuating the pedal to an angular degree associated with the forward speed set point, the forward speed set point representing a maximum forward speed of the driver in the speed control mode, wherein the angular degree associated with the forward speed setpoint is disposed between a neutral position of the pedal and a maximum of the forward angular range.

A method of operating a battery powered driver of a ground surface modifying machine in a speed control mode, the method comprising:

• engaging the speed control mode;
• selecting a forward speed set point;
• remapping, by control circuitry, a forward tilt profile associated with a pedal of the driver based on the forward speed setpoint and such that the forward speed setpoint is a maximum forward speed of the driver in the speed control mode;
• actuating the pedal of the driver in a forward direction into a forward angular range;
• actuating the pedal through a forward speed range associated with the forward angular range to accelerate the driver forward, the power delivered to the electric motor for forward acceleration proportional to a degree of actuation of the pedal within the forward speed range;
• and
• actuating the pedal to an angular degree associated with the forward speed set point to drive the driver at the maximum forward speed, the control circuitry configured to cause the driver to move at the maximum forward speed with the pedal at the angular degree associated with the forward speed set point and with the pedal actuated forward beyond the angular degree associated with the forward speed set point.