An apparatus controller for prompting a rider to be positioned on a vehicle in such a manner as to reduce lateral instability due to lateral acceleration of the vehicle. The apparatus has an input for receiving specification from the rider of a desired direction of travel, and indicating means for reflecting to the rider a propitious instantaneous body orientation to enhance stability in the face of lateral acceleration. The indicating may include a handlebar that is pivotable with respect to the vehicle and that is driven in response to vehicle turning.

A material handling vehicle comprising: a chassis, comprising an upper surface arranged on a first loading surface, a plurality of components coupled thereto, including; a power source, a drive motor, at least one drive wheel powered by the drive motor, at least one stabilizing wheel, at least one object sensor for detecting objects in the vehicle surroundings, a wireless interface for communication with other system units, a control unit, and a navigation device. The chassis further comprises at least one opening, arranged at a lowermost portion of the chassis, and extending from a first side portion of the chassis. The one opening arranged to receive a material handling element, and comprises an upper abutment surface and sidewalls, extending along the extension of each opening. A material handling system comprises a group of material handling vehicles, the group comprises at least one of the vehicles and at least one forklift truck.

A transporter for transporting a load over a surface. The transporter includes a support platform for supporting the load. The support platform is characterized by a fore-aft axis, a lateral axis, and an orientation with respect to the surface, the orientation referred to as an attitude. At least one ground-contacting element is flexibly coupled to the support platform in such a manner that the attitude of the support platform is capable of variation. One or more ground-contacting elements are driven by a motorized drive arrangement. A sensor module generates a signal characterizing the attitude of the support platform. Based on the attitude, a controller commands the motorized drive arrangement.

An electric self-balancing vehicle including a top cover, a bottom cover, an inner cover, a rotating mechanism, two wheels, two hub motors, a plurality of sensors, a power supply, and a controller is described herein. The top cover includes a first top cover and a second top cover disposed symmetrically and rotatable relative to each other. The bottom cover is fixed to the top cover and includes a first bottom cover and a second bottom cover disposed symmetrically and rotatable relative to each other. The inner cover is fixed between the top cover and the bottom cover and includes a first inner cover and a second inner cover disposed symmetrically and rotatable relative to each other. The rotating mechanism is fixed between the first inner cover and the second inner cover. The two wheels are rotatably fixed at two sides of the inner cover, respectively. The two hub motors are fixed in the two wheels, respectively. The plurality of sensors is disposed between the bottom cover and the inner cover, respectively. The power supply is fixed between the first bottom cover and the first inner cover. The controller is fixed between the second bottom cover and the second inner cover, the controller is electrically connected with the plurality of sensors, the power supply, and the hub motors, and the controller controls the hub motors to drive the corresponding wheels to rotate according to sensing signals transmitted by the sensors.

A compact utility vehicle including a chassis supporting a prime mover, ground engaging wheels or tracks, an implement, and a rear standing platform operably coupled to the chassis. The vehicle can be equipped with a control console that is operably coupled to the chassis at an elevation above the rear standing platform. The console can have two manual input devices, including a first manual input device configured to control the ground engaging wheels or tracks located along the lateral direction of the vehicle between a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle and 50% of a distance to a first side of the control console, and a second manual input device defining a rigid grip and a thumb switch control portion to control the operation of the implement, located along the lateral direction of the vehicle between the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle and 50% of a distance to a second side of the control console.

An electric vehicle may comprise a board including deck portions each configured to receive a foot of a rider, and a wheel assembly disposed between the deck portions. A motor assembly may be mounted to the board and configured to propel the electric vehicle using the wheel assembly. At least one orientation sensor may be configured to measure orientation information of the board, and at least one pressure-sensing transducer may be configured to determine rider presence information. A motor controller may be configured to receive the orientation information and the rider presence information, and to cause the motor assembly to propel the electric vehicle based on the orientation and presence information.

A control device for an autonomous lawn mower is described which receives input signals from a first and/or second hand control and determines a control signal for controlling the autonomous lawn mower. The hand controls may provide for intuitive control of the mower by a user. The control signals may be used to operate the autonomous lawn mower to perform a task such that, when later detached or otherwise decoupled, the autonomous lawn mower may perform the same or similar tasks substantially autonomously based on data (e.g., sensor signals, control signals, etc.), generated during manual operation. In some examples, the control signals may be determined to aid a user in maintaining a straight mow, proximity to a desired pattern for mowing, and/or be otherwise altered based on the presence of a user.

A motorized personal transport utility vehicle comprises a frame, independent front and rear suspension and a plurality of wheel hubs. Each suspension arm is pivotally coupled to a central frame portion. A pair of front wheel hubs are coupled to the front suspension arms and a pair of rear wheel hubs are coupled to the rear suspension arms. Each of the wheel hubs includes an integrated electric hub motor. The front and rear suspension arms are configured such that the front wheel hub track width is greater than the rear wheel hub track width such that the inner width between the insides of the front wheel hubs is greater than the outer width between the rear wheel hubs.

Some implementations can include a zero turn radius utility vehicle that is operated in a standing position by an operator using foot controls provided on the utility vehicle. Accordingly, the operator's hands are free to operate handheld equipment (e.g., a line trimmer, edger, blower, etc.) while the operator controls the utility vehicle via the foot controls. Further, the utility vehicle may have a single third wheel (and no mower deck or other deck or protrusion) extending from the front of the vehicle frame so as to minimize any protrusions to the front of the vehicle, which can permit the operator to work on the ground in front of the utility vehicle using handheld equipment without interference from a mower deck, while remaining in a standing position on the utility vehicle and being able to simultaneously control the utility vehicle (via foot controls) and perform work with handheld equipment.

The invention is directed to a stair-climbing remote control utility wagon. The wagon provides a forward chassis arm and a rear chassis arm which are interleaved with each other, providing a broad, stable base. The forward chassis arm terminates in a forward chassis, and the rear chassis arm terminates in a rear chassis. The forward chassis and the rear chassis provide powerful, battery-powered electric motors and caterpillar tracks. The forward chassis arm and rear chassis arm are fully articulated by servomotors, providing telescoping segments which may be extended and retracted with servomotors, and the motor housing of the forward chassis arm further provides infrared sensors, which are controlled by a microprocessor to enable the wagon to climb a flight of stairs. The forward chassis arm and rear chassis arm may also be used to elevate the bed of the wagon to any height, up to 48 inches.