Side-by-side diesel utility vehicle

A method operating a vehicle, the vehicle including a power system, a work attachment powered by the power system, and an operator seat including a seat cushion, the method including:

• detecting, by a controller of the vehicle, a position of a plate coupled to the seat cushion based on output from a sensor, the plate being positioned in an interior of the seat cushion;
• calculating, by the controller, a force on the operator seat based on the detected position of the plate;
• comparing, by the controller, the calculated force to a threshold force;
• determining, by the controller, an unloaded state of the operator seat based on the calculated force being less than the threshold force;
• and
• disabling, by the controller, an operation of the work attachment in response to determining the unloaded state of the operator seat.

A vehicle including:

• at least one ground engaging member;
• a frame supported by the at least one ground engaging member;
• a work attachment coupled to the frame;
• a controller operative to control at least one operation of the vehicle;
• an operator area supported by the frame and including an operator seat, the operator seat including a seat cushion and a rigid plate positioned in an interior of the seat cushion between a top surface of the seat cushion and a bottom surface of the seat cushion, the plate extending substantially to an edge of the seat cushion;
• and
• a seat sensor coupled to the operator seat and configured to detect a position of the plate, the controller being in communication with the seat sensor to detect at least one of an unloaded state and a loaded state of the operator seat based on the position of the plate, the controller being operative seat.