Drive-by-wire lawnmower

A drive-by-wire dual path hydraulically driven riding lawn mower, the mower comprising:

• first and second hydraulic pumps, the first and second hydraulic pumps providing respective first and second flows of hydraulic fluid;
• first and second hydraulically driven wheels that operate independently and are capable of bi-directional rotation, the first and second wheels being independently rotated by the respective first and second flows of hydraulic fluid, and the independent rotation of the first and second wheels propelling and steering the mower;
• a microprocessor, the microprocessor controlling the operation of the first and second wheels by controlling the first and second flows of hydraulic fluid to the respective first and second wheels in accordance with signals received by the microprocessor;
• at least one controller, the at least one controller sending signals to the microprocessor that the microprocessor uses to control the operation of the first and second wheels so that operation of the at least one controller causes the first and second wheels to propel and steer the mower;
• and
• first and second valves, the first and second valves controlling a direction and volume of flow of the respective first and second flows of hydraulic fluid in response to signals received from the microprocessor, the controlling of the direction and volume of flow of the first and second flows of hydraulic fluid controlling a direction and speed of rotation of the respective first and second wheels,
• wherein the first and second driven wheels are the only driven wheels.

A drive-by-wire dual path hydraulically driven riding lawn mower, the mower comprising:

• first and second hydraulic pumps, the first and second hydraulic pumps providing respective first and second flows of hydraulic fluid;
• first and second hydraulically driven wheels that operate independently and are capable of bi-directional rotation, the first and second wheels being independently rotated by the respective first and second flows of hydraulic fluid, and the independent rotation of the first and second wheels propelling and steering the mower;
• a microprocessor, the microprocessor controlling the operation of the first and second wheels by controlling the first and second flows of hydraulic fluid to the respective first and second wheels in accordance with signals received by the microprocessor;
• a first controller that sends signals to the microprocessor that the microprocessor uses to control the operation of the first and second wheels, the signals from the first controller informing the microprocessor of whether the mower is to be propelled in a forward or backward direction;
• a second controller that sends signals to the microprocessor that the microprocessor uses to control the operation of the first and second wheels, the signals from the second controller informing the microprocessor of a direction in which the mower is to be steered;
• and
• first and second valves, the first and second valves controlling a direction and volume of flow of the respective first and second flows of hydraulic fluid in response to signals received from the microprocessor, the controlling of the direction and volume of flow of the first and second flows of hydraulic fluid controlling a direction and speed of rotation of the respective first and second wheels.

A drive-by-wire riding lawn mower, the mower comprising:

• first and second drive units;
• first and second driven wheels that operate independently and are capable of bi-directional rotation, the first and second wheels being independently rotationally driven by the respective first and second drive units, and the independent rotation of the first and second wheels propelling and steering the mower;
• a microprocessor, the microprocessor controlling the operation of the first and second wheels by controlling the operation of the first and second drive units in accordance with signals received by the microprocessor;
• a first controller that sends signals to the microprocessor that the microprocessor uses to control the operation of the first and second wheels, the signals from the first controller informing the microprocessor of whether the mower is to be propelled in a forward or backward direction;
• and
• a second controller that sends signals to the microprocessor that the microprocessor uses to control the operation of the first and second wheels, the signals from the second controller informing the microprocessor of a direction in which the mower is to be steered.