Stability control system

A drive and control system for use on a vehicle having one or more driven wheels, the drive and control system comprising:

• a plurality of operator inputs, comprising:
• an operator drive input having a neutral drive position and a plurality of non-neutral drive positions;
• and
• an operator steering input having a neutral steering position and a plurality of non-neutral steering positions;
• at least one drive motor engaged to and driving at least one driven wheel;
• a plurality of sensors disposed on the vehicle and capable of generating sensor signals corresponding to sensed roll parameters, sensed pitch parameters, and sensed yaw parameters;
• a stability control module comprising a processor connected to the plurality of operator inputs, the stability control module being connected to and capable of providing output signals to the at least one drive motor;
• wherein the processor is configured to:
• (a) determine whether the operator drive input is in one of the non-neutral drive positions;
• (b) determine whether the operator steering input is in the neutral steering position;
• (c) if the operator drive input is in one of the non-neutral drive positions, and if the operator steering input is in the neutral steering position, activate a steering correction feature;
• (d) if the operator drive input is in one of the non-neutral drive positions, perform a roll comparison by comparing at least one of the sensed roll parameters to an initial roll parameter and, in response to a first outcome of the roll comparison, limit power supplied to the at least one drive motor, enforce a first predetermined maximum vehicle speed or provide an audible or visual warning;
• and
• (e) if the operator drive input is in one of the non-neutral drive positions, provide a pitch comparison by comparing at least one of the sensed pitch parameters to an initial pitch parameter and, in response to a first outcome of the pitch comparison, limit power supplied to the at least one drive motor, enforce a second predetermined maximum vehicle speed or provide an audible or visual warning.

A method of operating a vehicle, the vehicle comprising:

• a pair of driven wheels, and a drive and control system comprising:
• a plurality of operator inputs, comprising an operator drive input having a neutral drive position and a plurality of non-neutral drive positions and an operator steering input having a neutral steering position and a plurality of non-neutral steering positions;
• a pair of drive motors, each drive motor being engaged to and driving at least one of the pair of driven wheels;
• a plurality of sensors disposed on the vehicle and capable of generating sensor signals corresponding to sensed roll parameters, sensed pitch parameters, and sensed yaw parameters;
• and
• a stability control module comprising a processor connected to the plurality of operator inputs, the stability control module being connected to and capable of providing output signals to the pair of drive motors;
• the method comprising, via the processor:
• (a) determining whether the operator drive input is in one of the non-neutral drive positions;
• (b) determining whether the operator steering input is in the neutral steering position;
• (c) if the operator steering input is in the neutral steering position, activating a steering correction feature;
• (d) if the operator drive input is in one of the non-neutral drive positions, providing a roll comparison by comparing at least one of the sensed roll parameters to an initial roll parameter and, in response to a first outcome of the roll comparison, limiting power supplied to the drive motors or enforcing a first predetermined maximum vehicle speed or providing an audible or visual warning;
• and
• (e) if the operator drive input is in one of the non-neutral drive positions, providing a pitch comparison by comparing at least one of the sensed pitch parameters to an initial pitch parameter and, in response to a first outcome of the pitch comparison, limiting power supplied to the drive motors or enforcing a second predetermined maximum vehicle speed or providing an audible or visual warning.