Modular vehicle system having engine unit and mower unit for communication therewith

Abstract

A modular vehicle system comprises an engine unit and an engine management controller associated with the engine unit. A throttle actuator is associated with the engine management controller to control a throttle setting of an engine unit. A mower unit is associated with mower electronics. A blade clutch actuator activates or deactivates a cutting blade of the mower unit. A transmission line supports communications between the engine management controller and the mower electronics to support remote control mowing or unmanned mowing activities.

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       8 . A modular vehicle, the modular vehicle comprising: 
 an engine unit;    an engine management controller associated with the engine unit;    a throttle actuator associated with the engine management controller;    a mower unit associated with mower electronics;    a blade clutch actuator associated with the mower electronics; and    a transmission line for conveying data between the engine management controller and the mower electronics.    
   
   
       9 . The modular vehicle according to  claim 8  wherein the transmission line further comprises a connector having a first connector portion associated with the engine unit and a second connector portion associated with the mower unit.  
   
   
       10 . The modular vehicle according to  claim 8  further comprising: 
 a user interface;    a transceiver coupled to the user interface and supporting remote control of at least one of the following: emergency stopping of the mower unit, emergency stopping of a blade of the mower unit, adjustment of a mowing height of the mower unit, activating rotation of a blade of the mower unit, deactivating rotation of the blade of the mower unit, directing motion of the mower unit, directing a position of the mower unit, and detecting an obstacle around the mower unit.    
   
   
       11 . The modular vehicle according to  claim 8  further comprising: 
 a location determining receiver for determining a location of the engine unit;    a path planning module for establishing a planned path for the engine unit, a navigation module for guiding the vehicle along the planned path based on the determined location,    an obstacle detection module to detect obstacles in at least one of the planned path and a defined region about the mower.    
   
   
       12 . The modular vehicle according to  claim 8  further comprising: 
 an obstacle detection sensor for detecting obstacles in a defined region about the mower, the obstacle detection sensor associated with the mower electronics.    
   
   
       13 . The modular vehicle according to  claim 8  wherein the vehicle electronics further comprises a mower controller for managing at least one of an emergency stop switch, a blade clutch actuator, a mow height actuator, an engine disable switch, and an obstacle detection sensor.  
   
   
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