Patent ID: 8170733

Claim:
A vehicle control system, comprising: a first powertrain including a first power source, a second powertrain including a second power source, a third powertrain including a third power source, an operator control interface including a first portion configured to receive a first operator input and a second portion configured to receive a second operator input, the first operator input and the second operator input indicative of a desired speed and a desired direction, a controller configured to deliver a power control signal to at least one of the first powertrain, the second powertrain, and the third powertrain, wherein each powertrain comprises an engine and a transmission, and wherein the power control signal is a function of the first operator input and the second operator input; wherein the controller further comprises a master controller and a follower controller, and a plurality of pairs of engine and transmission controllers, each pair comprising a single engine controller and a single transmission controller, each pair being respectively interposed between, and in signal communication with one of the first, second, and third powertrains; and wherein the master controller is operably coupled to and in direct signal communication with only two of the first, second, and third powertrains via their respective pairs of engine and transmission controllers, and wherein the follower controller is operably coupled to and in direct signal communication with only the remaining one of the first, second, and third powertrains via its respective pair of engine and transmission controllers.