Vehicle control system

A control system for a vehicle, the vehicle having an operator control and being capable of configuration in a drive mode, a neutral mode, and a lockout mode, the vehicle having a drive system capable of moving the vehicle in the drive mode, the vehicle having a brake system capable of engaging and disengaging a vehicle brake, the vehicle operator controlling the operator control to direct vehicle operations, the control system comprising:

• a control module operatively coupled to the operator control, the control module capable of detecting whether the operator control is being actively controlled by the vehicle operator, the control module adapted to configure the vehicle in the lockout mode based on an absence of active control over the operator control, the control module adapted to configure the vehicle in the drive mode based on the operator control being actively controlled by the vehicle operator;
• a brake control system operatively coupled to the control module, the brake control system adapted to engage the vehicle brake based on the control module indicating absence of active control over the operator control, the brake control system adapted to disengage the vehicle brake based on the control module indicating the operator control is being actively controlled;
• a vehicle starter module coupled to the drive system, the vehicle starter adapted to allow starting of the drive system based on the control module indicating absence of active control over the operator control;
• an automatic return control adapted to automatically transition the vehicle to the lockout mode and the neutral mode, the automatic return control adapted to transition the vehicle to the lockout mode based on absence of active control over the operator control by the vehicle operator;
• wherein the operator control includes a first control lever and a second control lever, the first control lever and the second control lever being linked to the drive system to independently control respective first and second drive wheels such that, in the drive mode, the first control lever is adapted to direct the first drive wheel to rotate forward or backward and the second control lever is adapted to direct the second drive wheel to rotate forward or backward;
• wherein the automatic return control includes at least one first spring element that, based on absence of operator control over the first control lever by the vehicle operator, directs the first control lever to a neutral position corresponding to the neutral mode such that the first drive wheel remains substantially motionless;
• wherein the automatic return includes at least one second spring element that, based on absence of operator control over the second control lever by the vehicle operator, directs the second lever to a neutral position corresponding to the neutral mode such that the first drive wheel remains substantially motionless;
• and
• wherein the automatic return control further independently directs the first and second control levers to a lockout position based on absence of operator control by the vehicle operator, the lockout position corresponding to the lockout mode.