Utility vehicle with onboard and remote control systems

A utility vehicle having a frame, a pair of front caster wheels and a pair of rear drive wheels, the utility vehicle comprising:

• a prime mover supported by the frame;
• a first hydraulic motor supported by the frame and powering one of the pair of rear drive wheels;
• a second hydraulic motor supported by the frame and powering the other of the pair of rear drive wheels;
• a mowing deck supported by the frame and selectively powered by the prime mover, wherein the mowing deck is selectively activated by a power takeoff switch disposed on the vehicle;
• an operator platform mounted at least partially between the pair of rear drive wheels, and a control support tower adjacent to the operator platform:
• a drive controller in communication with the first and second hydraulic motors to control the output thereof and in communication with onboard steering and speed controls;
• a radio control receiver in communication with the drive controller;
• a radio control transmitter having steering and speed controls and in communication with the radio control receiver;
• and
• a control mode switch disposed on the vehicle and having at least a first position, where the drive controller receives steering and speed control inputs from the onboard steering and speed controls in an onboard control mode, and a second position where the drive controller receives steering and speed control inputs from the radio control transmitter in a radio control mode.

A utility vehicle having a frame supported by a pair of front caster wheels and a pair of rear drive wheels, the utility vehicle comprising:

• a prime mover supported by the frame;
• a first hydraulic drive circuit powered by the prime mover and powering one of the pair of rear drive wheels, wherein the first hydraulic drive circuit comprises:
• a first hydraulic pump;
• a first electric actuator engaged to the first hydraulic pump to adjust the output thereof;
• and
• a first hydraulic motor in communication with and driven by the first hydraulic pump to power the one of the pair of rear drive wheels;
• a second hydraulic drive circuit powered by the prime mover and powering the other of the pair of rear drive wheels, wherein the second hydraulic drive circuit comprises:
• a second hydraulic pump;
• a second electric actuator engaged to the second hydraulic pump to adjust the output thereof;
• and
• a second hydraulic motor in communication with and driven by the second hydraulic pump to power the other of the pair of rear drive wheels;
• a drive controller in communication with the first and second electric actuators and in communication with onboard steering and speed controls;
• a mowing deck supported by the frame and an electric power generating device driven by the prime mover, and at least one electric deck motor mounted to the mowing deck to rotate a cutting blade engaged thereto, and a deck motor controller in communication with the drive controller and the at least one electric deck motor;
• a radio control receiver in communication with the drive controller;
• a radio control transmitter having steering and speed controls and in communication with the radio control receiver;
• and
• a control mode switch disposed on the vehicle and having at least a first position where the drive controller receives steering and speed control inputs from the onboard steering and speed controls, and a second position where the drive controller receives steering and speed control inputs from the radio control transmitter.