Dynamic tactical steering feedback

A method of controlling a turf maintenance vehicle comprising:

• detecting a steering angle or a ground speed of the turf maintenance vehicle;
• transmitting an input signal to a controller, the input signal correlating to the steering angle or the ground speed of the turf maintenance vehicle;
• and
• changing at least one of a steering resistance, a turning ratio, a speed limit, the ground speed, or a turning angle limit of the turf maintenance vehicle according to a control signal that is transmitted from the controller and that is based on the input signal wherein the changing the steering resistance, the turning ratio, the speed limit, the ground speed, or the turning angle limit comprises at least one of:
• changing current sent to an electromagnet to change a magnetic field to thereby change the properties of a magnetorheological fluid to thereby change the steering resistance;
• or
• changing a duty cycle of pulse modulation of a friction clutch assembly to thereby change the steering resistance.

A turf maintenance vehicle comprising:

• a frame;
• a turf maintenance implement supported by the frame;
• a ground traction system including a plurality of wheels supporting the frame;
• a power delivery system that delivers power to at least one of the turf maintenance implement or the ground traction system;
• an input device that detects a steering angle or a ground speed of the turf maintenance vehicle and that transmits an input signal correlative to the steering angle or the ground speed of the turf maintenance vehicle;
• an output device that affects at least one of a steering resistance, a turning ratio, a speed limit, the ground speed, or a turning angle limit of the turf maintenance vehicle;
• and
• a controller that receives the input signal and outputs a control signal to the output device based on the input signal so as to change the at least one of the steering resistance, the turning ratio, the speed limit, the ground speed, or the turning angle limit of the turf maintenance vehicle based on the input signal.

A turf maintenance vehicle comprising:

• a frame;
• a turf maintenance implement supported by the frame;
• a ground traction system including a plurality of wheels supporting the frame;
• a power delivery system that delivers power to the turf maintenance implement or the ground traction system;
• a steering system that changes a direction of travel of the turf maintenance vehicle;
• a ground speed sensor that detects a ground speed of the turf maintenance vehicle;
• a steering angle sensor that detects a steering angle of the steering system;
• and
• a controller that changes at least one of a steering resistance of the steering system, the turning ratio of the steering system, the speed limit of the ground traction system, the ground speed of the ground traction system, or the turning angle limit of the steering system based on at least one of the ground speed detected by the ground speed sensor or the steering angle detected by the steering angle sensor.

A dynamic tactical steering feedback system for a turf maintenance vehicle comprising:

• an input device that detects a steering angle or a ground speed of the turf maintenance vehicle and that transmits an input signal correlative to the steering angle or the ground speed of the turf maintenance vehicle;
• an output device that affects at least one of a steering resistance, a turning ratio, a speed limit, the ground speed, or a turning angle limit of the turf maintenance vehicle;
• and
• a controller that receives the input signal and outputs a control signal to the output device based on the input signal so as to change the at least one of the steering resistance, the turning ratio, the speed limit, the ground speed, or the turning angle limit of the turf maintenance vehicle based on the input signal;
• and
• a ground traction system, wherein the output device is an actuator that changes the turning angle of the ground traction system, and wherein the actuator receives the control signal from the controller so as to accordingly change the turning angle limit of the turf maintenance vehicle.

A dynamic tactical steering feedback system for a turf maintenance vehicle comprising:

• an input device that detects a steering angle or a ground speed of the turf maintenance vehicle and that transmits an input signal correlative to the steering angle or the ground speed of the turf maintenance vehicle;
• an output device that affects at least one of a steering resistance, a turning ratio, a speed limit, the ground speed, or a turning angle limit of the turf maintenance vehicle;
• and
• a controller that receives the input signal and outputs a control signal to the output device based on the input signal so as to change the at least one of the steering resistance, the turning ratio, the speed limit, the ground speed, or the turning angle limit of the turf maintenance vehicle based on the input signal;
• a ground traction system, wherein the output device is an actuator that changes the turning angle of the ground traction system, and wherein the actuator receives the control signal from the controller so as to accordingly change the turning angle limit of the turf maintenance vehicle;
• and
• a ground traction system, wherein the input device is a ground speed sensor operatively coupled to the ground traction system that detects the ground speed of the turf maintenance vehicle.