Patent ID: 8146696
Filing Date: 2012-04-03
Classification: B60L,B62K,G05D,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A method for safely moving a vehicle up or down a sloped surface, comprising: providing a sloped surface mode of operation; providing an amount of torque to at least one ground contacting element of the vehicle to prevent the vehicle from uncontrollably moving down the sloped surface while in the sloped surface mode of operation; and providing an assist mechanism to enable an operator to guide the vehicle; monitoring a shaft speed of a motor drive of the vehicle; adjusting the amount of torque provided by the motor drive to the at least one ground contacting element to prevent the vehicle from uncontrollably moving down the sloped surface; controlling the direction of torque provided to the at least one ground contacting element; increasing the amount of torque provided to the at least one ground contacting element to allow the vehicle to move up the sloped surface in a first sloped surface mode of operation; and decreasing the amount of torque provided to the at least one ground contacting element to allow the vehicle to move safely down the sloped surface in a second mode of operation.