A work assist system is provided for an industrial vehicle. The work assist system includes a support structure having a portion including a predefined cross-sectional shape. The work assist system further includes a clamp member having coupling structure for removably coupling the clamp member to the support structure portion, and mounting structure that removably supports a work assist item that is usable by an operator located in an operator compartment of the vehicle.
F16M 13/02 - Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
2.
ADAPTIVE ACCELERATION FOR MATERIALS HANDLING VEHICLE
A method for operating a materials handling vehicle is provided comprising: monitoring, by a controller, a first vehicle drive parameter corresponding to a first direction of travel of the vehicle during a first manual operation of the vehicle by an operator and concurrently monitoring, by the controller, a second vehicle drive parameter corresponding to a second direction different from the first direction of travel during the first manual operation of the vehicle by an operator. The controller receives, after the first manual operation of the vehicle, a request to implement a first semi-automated driving operation. Based on the first and second monitored vehicle drive parameters during the first manual operation, the controller controls implementation of the first semi-automated driving operation.
A materials handling vehicle including a vehicle-side charging contact assembly coupled to a battery, a steerable drive wheel defining a drive wheel track width W, and a pair of load wheels defining a load wheel gap G between the pair of load wheels that is larger than the drive wheel track width W. A charging station includes a pair of floor-side charging contacts configured to transfer charging current to the vehicle-side charging contact assembly. The pair of floor-side charging contacts define an inner contact spacing S1 that is larger than the drive wheel track width W, and an outer contact spacing S2 that is larger than the inner contact spacing S1 and smaller than the load wheel gap G to permit passage of the steerable drive wheel between the floor-side charging contacts, followed by passage of the pair of load wheels outside of the floor-side charging contacts.
A materials handling vehicle comprises a processor, a throttle, and a zone sensing subsystem coupled to the processor. The processor, responsive to the zone sensing subsystem detecting that the materials handling vehicle is in a restricted operational zone, controls the materials handling vehicle by applying a maximum vehicle operational limit of the materials handling vehicle to a magnitude that is at or below an operational limit of the restricted operational zone. Further, the processor overrides the maximum vehicle operational limit based on application of a throttle neutral action.
B60K 31/00 - Vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed, i.e. preventing speed from exceeding an arbitrarily established velocity or maintaining speed at a particular velocity, as selected by the vehicle operat
B60Q 9/00 - Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups
G05D 1/02 - Control of position or course in two dimensions
7.
SYSTEM COMPRISING A MULTILEVEL WAREHOUSE RACKING SYSTEM COMPRISING TOTE TRANSFER ZONES, MATERIALS HANDLING VEHICLES, AND TRANSPORTERS, AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF
Goods storage and retrieval systems and materials handling vehicles are provided. The goods storage and retrieval system includes a multilevel warehouse racking system; a materials handling vehicle comprising a mast assembly, a picking attachment, and vehicle-based cart engagement hardware; a mobile storage cart; and a transporter comprising transporter-based engagement hardware. The transporter-based engagement hardware enables the transporter to engage, transport, and disengage the mobile storage cart. The vehicle-based cart engagement hardware is coupled to the mast assembly to (i) engage and disengage the mobile storage cart and (ii) transport the mobile storage cart to multiple levels of the multilevel warehouse racking system. The mast assembly and the picking attachment are configured to access multiple levels of the multilevel warehouse racking system. The picking attachment is configured to transfer totes between the multilevel warehouse racking system and the mobile storage cart.
A process to schedule an industrial vehicle for maintenance comprises constructing a warehouse model based upon a warehouse configuration to define a dimensionally constrained environment and virtual industrial vehicles operating within the environment. A workflow model defines tasks of the virtual industrial vehicles within the defined environment of the warehouse model. A kinematic model is based upon vehicle specifications for the virtual industrial vehicles, kinematic functions of the virtual industrial vehicles, constraints of the defined environment of the warehouse model, and a cutback curve computed for a parameter of a kinematic function of the virtual industrial vehicle. The kinematic model is applied to the workflow model to evaluate virtual industrial vehicle performance to determine ideal results. Actual use data of the industrial vehicle is collected during the industrial vehicle operation. The industrial vehicle is scheduled for maintenance based on a comparison of the actual use data to the ideal results.
G05D 1/00 - Control of position, course, altitude, or attitude of land, water, air, or space vehicles, e.g. automatic pilot
B60L 58/10 - Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles for monitoring or controlling batteries
G06Q 10/0631 - Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
G05D 1/02 - Control of position or course in two dimensions
G06Q 10/0639 - Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
G06Q 10/067 - Enterprise or organisation modelling
G06Q 50/28 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading, distribution or shipping
G07C 5/08 - Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle, or waiting time
9.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OPTICAL TARGET BASED INDOOR VEHICLE NAVIGATION
Vehicles, systems, and methods for navigating or tracking the navigation of a materials handling vehicle along a surface that may include a camera and vehicle functions to match two-dimensional image information from camera data associated with the input image of overhead features with a plurality of global target locations of a warehouse map to generate a plurality of candidate optical targets, an optical target associated with each global target location and a code; filter the targets to determine a candidate optical target; decode the target to identify the associated code; identify an optical target associated with the identified code; determine a camera metric relative to the identified optical target and the position and orientation of the identified optical target in the warehouse map; calculate a vehicle pose based on the camera metric; and navigate the materials handling vehicle utilizing the vehicle pose.
A process for calibrating a distance and range measurement device coupled to an industrial vehicle comprises taking a first measurement of an emission from the device at a first yaw angle relative to a roll axis of the device. A second measurement of the emission at a second yaw angle relative to the roll axis is taken. The second yaw angle is within an angular tolerance of the first yaw angle but in an opposite direction. The device is calibrated relative to the roll axis when the first and second measurements are within a tolerance of each other.
A process for aligning an industrial vehicle for putaway operation comprises traveling to a position associated with a putaway location. A sensor mounted to the industrial vehicle determines whether the putaway location is empty, and if the putaway location is empty, the industrial vehicle completes a pivot maneuver such that a portion of the industrial vehicle is inside the putaway location while the pivot maneuver is in progress.
G05D 1/02 - Control of position or course in two dimensions
B66F 9/06 - Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks
A process of providing industrial vehicle feedback comprises storing, in memory, data identifying a vehicle-based event that characterizes an operation of an industrial vehicle. Further, operation information collected from an electronic component on the industrial vehicle that is associated with the vehicle-based event is stored in the memory. The collected operation information characterizes a current operating state of the industrial vehicle as the industrial vehicle is being operated. The vehicle-based event is detected based upon the collected operation information. After detecting that the vehicle-based event has occurred, geo-location information is assembled with the collected operation information into an event record to capture a vehicle state and a location surrounding the detected event, which is transmitted to a remote server.
Controlling a maximum vehicle speed for an industrial vehicle includes determining, by a processor of the industrial vehicle, a torque applied to the traction wheel of the industrial vehicle; converting the torque to an equivalent force value; and determining an acceleration of the industrial vehicle while the torque is applied to the traction wheel. Additional steps include calculating a load being moved by the industrial vehicle, based at least in part on the acceleration and the equivalent force value; and controlling the maximum speed of the industrial vehicle based on the calculated load being moved by the industrial vehicle.
SYSTEM COMPRISING A MULTILEVEL WAREHOUSE RACKING SYSTEM COMPRISING TOTE TRANSFER ZONES, MATERIALS HANDLING VEHICLES, AND TRANSPORTERS, AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF
Goods storage and retrieval systems and materials handling vehicles are provided. The goods storage and retrieval system includes a multilevel warehouse racking system; a materials handling vehicle comprising a mast assembly, a picking attachment, and vehicle-based cart engagement hardware; a mobile storage cart; and a transporter comprising transporter-based engagement hardware. The transporter-based engagement hardware enables the transporter to engage, transport, and disengage the mobile storage cart. The vehicle-based cart engagement hardware is coupled to the mast assembly to (i) engage and disengage the mobile storage cart and (ii) transport the mobile storage cart to multiple levels of the multilevel warehouse racking system. The mast assembly and the picking attachment are configured to access multiple levels of the multilevel warehouse racking system. The picking attachment is configured to transfer totes between the multilevel warehouse racking system and the mobile storage cart.
A materials handling vehicle includes: a power unit including: a steered wheel, and a steering device for generating a steer control signal; a load handling assembly coupled to the power unit; a controller located on the power unit for receiving the steer control signal; and a sensing device on the power unit and coupled to the controller. The sensing device monitors areas in front of and next to the vehicle. Based on sensing device data, the controller may modify at least one of the following vehicle parameters: a maximum allowable turning angle or a steered-wheel-to-steering-device ratio.
G01S 17/931 - Lidar systems, specially adapted for specific applications for anti-collision purposes of land vehicles
B60Q 1/32 - Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating vehicle sides
G01S 7/481 - Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements
G05D 1/00 - Control of position, course, altitude, or attitude of land, water, air, or space vehicles, e.g. automatic pilot
G06V 20/58 - Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an industrial facility is provided comprising a tag layout and at least one ingress/egress zone. The tag layout comprises at least one double row of tags. The ingress/egress zone is located outside of an area of the vehicle travel plane occupied by the aisle path and is bounded in its entirety by the double row of tags, by two or more double rows of tags, by a combination of one or more double rows of tags and one more selected facility boundaries, or by combinations thereof. The double row of tags is arranged in an n × m matrix that is configured for successive detection of the inner and outer rows of tags that is dependent on the point-of-origin of a sensor transit path across the double row of tags. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
G05D 1/02 - Control of position or course in two dimensions
G06K 7/10 - Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by corpuscular radiation
G01C 21/00 - Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups
B66F 9/06 - Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks
E04H 5/02 - Buildings or groups of buildings for industrial purposes, e.g. for power-plants or factories
G05D 1/00 - Control of position, course, altitude, or attitude of land, water, air, or space vehicles, e.g. automatic pilot
A system that controls an industrial vehicle responsive to encountering working environment tags comprises a tag reader mounted on an industrial vehicle. Further, a tag is incorporated into a harness that is to be worn by an operator of the industrial vehicle. An information processing device on the industrial vehicle is communicably coupled to the tag reader and comprises a processor that is programmed to receive an identifier of the tag in the harness, access a predetermined action based upon the identifier of the detected tag, and communicate information across a vehicle network bus to an electronic component of the industrial vehicle to perform the predetermined action. The predetermined action automatically modifies a working state of the industrial vehicle to a first action when the harness worn by the operator is not clipped in, and a second action when the harness worn by the operator is clipped in.
G07C 5/00 - Registering or indicating the working of vehicles
G07C 5/08 - Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle, or waiting time
G06Q 10/0631 - Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
G06Q 10/0639 - Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
G06Q 10/06 - Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
A process for automating control of an industrial vehicle based on location comprises scanning an environment, by using an optical scanner affixed to the industrial vehicle. A marker defined by a series of tags is identified by recursively receiving a reflection of the optical scanner; determining if the reflection is indicative of an optical tag; and concatenating the indication of an optical tag to the marker. Once the marker is identified, the marker is transformed into an environmental condition and a status of the vehicle is determined, where the status correlates to the environmental condition. Further, an automated control is applied on the industrial vehicle based on the environmental condition and the status of the industrial vehicle.
Embodiments provided herein include systems and methods for object detection in an environment. One embodiment of a system includes a vehicle with a wireless communication receiver for receiving communication from a wireless communication transmitter that is placed on a first object and a computing device that includes a memory component and a processor. The memory component may store logic that causes the system to receive a communication from the wireless communication transmitter, receive proximity data related to a second object, and determine a second location of the second object. Some embodiments cause the system to determine a control zone along a current path of the vehicle based on a speed of the vehicle, and in response to determining that at least one of the following enters the control zone: the first object or the second object, reduce the speed of the vehicle.
A materials handling vehicle includes a camera, odometry module, processor, and drive mechanism. The camera captures images of an identifier for a racking system aisle and a rack leg portion in the aisle. The processor uses the identifier to generate information indicative of an initial rack leg position and rack leg spacing in the aisle, generate an initial vehicle position using the initial rack leg position, generate a vehicle odometry-based position using odometry data and the initial vehicle position, detect a subsequent rack leg using a captured image, correlate the detected subsequent rack leg with an expected vehicle position using rack leg spacing, generate an odometry error signal based on a difference between the positions, and update the vehicle odometry-based position using the odometry error signal and/or generated mast sway compensation to use for end of aisle protection and/or in/out of aisle localization.
B66F 9/06 - Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks
B66F 9/20 - Means for actuating or controlling masts, platforms, or forks
G06V 20/56 - Context or environment of the image exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
22.
GOODS-TO-MAN WAREHOUSING COMPRISING MULTILEVEL RACKING, MOBILE STORAGE UNITS, STORAGE UNIT TRANSPORTERS, AND PICK-PLACE VEHICLE
A goods-to-man warehousing system comprises a multilevel racking system, a plurality of mobile storage units, a storage unit transporter, a pick-place vehicle, a mobile storage unit transfer node, and a warehouse management computing hub. The multilevel racking system comprises a vertically and horizontally distributed array of storage bays. One or more of the mobile storage units are positioned in respective ones of the storage bays of the multilevel racking system. The pick-place vehicle comprises pick-place hardware that enables the pick-place vehicle to transfer mobile storage units between a plurality of different, vertically displaced storage bays of the multilevel racking system and the mobile storage unit transfer node of the goods-to-man warehousing system. The storage unit transporter comprises storage unit engagement hardware that enables the storage unit transporter to transport mobile storage units to or from the mobile storage unit transfer node of the goods-to-man warehousing system.
A spacer assembly and method for using same to fix a first component to a second component are provided. The method includes positioning the first and second spacer segments between the first and second components, the first and second spacer segments each including an inner face, an opposite outer face, and an exterior surface extending along a longitudinal axis between the inner face and the outer face. The exterior surfaces of the first and second spacer segments are coaxially aligned and secured by a securing device such that the inner faces of the first and second spacer segments define supplementary non-perpendicular angles relative to the longitudinal axis and the outer faces of the first and second spacer segments are parallel to one another. The securing device and the first and second spacer segments are removed after the first component is mechanically coupled to the second component.
B23K 37/04 - Auxiliary devices or processes, not specially adapted to a procedure covered by only one of the other main groups of this subclass for holding or positioning work
24.
BATTERY GUIDE PINS FOR A BATTERY RECEIVING SPACE OF A MATERIALS HANDLING VEHICLE, AND MATERIALS HANDLING VEHICLES INCORPORATING THE SAME
A materials handling vehicle including a battery receiving space, and a removable battery assembly, wherein: the battery receiving space includes opposing pairs of battery guide pins, each opposing pair arranged on opposite sides of the battery receiving space, and each opposing pair includes a latching pin and a guiding pin; the removable battery assembly includes a battery locking mechanism; the battery locking mechanism includes spring-loaded locking pins that are spring-biased in extended positions and are movable from the extended positions to respective retracted positions; the latching pin of each opposing pair of battery guide pins includes a recess forming a battery latch that is positioned to receive a leading portion of one of the spring-loaded locking pins in the extended position.
B60K 1/04 - Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units of the electric storage means for propulsion
B60L 53/80 - Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
B60L 50/64 - Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
H01M 50/249 - Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders specially adapted for aircraft or vehicles, e.g. cars or trains
25.
BATTERY GUIDE BLOCKS FOR A BATTERY RECEIVING SPACE OF A MATERIALS HANDLING VEHICLE, AND MATERIALS HANDLING VEHICLES INCORPORATING THE SAME
A materials handling vehicle including a battery receiving space, and a removable battery assembly, wherein: the removable battery assembly includes lateral battery faces, each including a longitudinal guide structure; the battery receiving space includes opposing guide blocks, each arranged on opposite sides of the battery receiving space, and each including a securement portion and a replaceable portion; the replaceable portion of each guide block including a friction-inducing surface and a guiding surface; each friction-inducing surface facing an opposing one of the lateral battery faces; and each guiding surface facing an opposing surface of the longitudinal guide structure, with the removable battery assembly seated in the battery receiving space.
A materials handling vehicle including a battery receiving space, and a removable battery assembly, wherein: the removable battery assembly includes a battery body, a leading face, and an electrical socket on the leading face of the removable battery assembly; the battery receiving space includes an electrical connector; the leading face of the removable battery assembly rests on a bottom surface of the battery receiving space with the electrical socket engaged with the electrical connector; and the electrical socket, the electrical connector, the battery body, and the battery receiving space are configured to define a standoff gap between opposing surfaces of the electrical socket and the electrical connector, with the leading face of the removable battery assembly resting on the bottom surface of the battery receiving space.
B60L 53/80 - Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
B60L 53/16 - Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
H01M 10/48 - Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte
A pallet truck includes a drive frame on which a drive wheel support is pivotably supported, a load frame, which is liftable with respect to the drive frame in a lifting direction, and a hydraulic lift module, which interconnects the drive frame and the load frame. The hydraulic lift module includes a hydraulic lift cylinder, which includes a cylinder barrel and a piston rod, wherein the cylinder barrel includes a cap end at one end portion of the cylinder barrel and a rod end at the other end portion of the cylinder barrel, wherein the piston rod extends outwards from the cylinder barrel at the rod end of the cylinder barrel and wherein a free end of the piston rod is accommodated in the drive frame. In the lifting direction, the cap end of the cylinder barrel is arranged above the rod end of the cylinder barrel.
An industrial truck including a drive frame, a load frame liftable with respect to the drive frame, a drive frame cover at least partly covering the drive frame, and a load frame cover at least partly covering the load frame. The drive frame cover includes a curved portion overlapping a load frame cover. The curved portion includes a curvature aligned with a curved movement path of the load frame cover with respect to the drive frame cover. A cover system including a first cover provided for at least partly covering a first part of an industrial truck, and a second cover provided for at least partly covering a second part of the industrial truck and movable with respect to the first part. The first cover includes a curved portion overlapping the second cover. The curved portion includes a curvature aligned with a curved movement path of the second cover.
B62B 3/06 - Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheels; Steering devices therefor; Equipment therefor involving means for grappling or securing in place objects to be carried; Load handling equipment for simply clearing the load from the ground, e.g. low-lift trucks
B62B 5/00 - Accessories or details specially adapted for hand carts
29.
BATTERY LOCKING MECHANISMS, REMOVABLE BATTERY ASSEMBLIES, AND MATERIALS HANDLING VEHICLES INCORPORATING THE SAME
A materials handling vehicle including a battery receiving space, and a removable battery assembly, wherein: the removable battery assembly includes a battery body and a battery locking mechanism; the battery locking mechanism includes a spring-loaded battery handle and a spring-loaded locking pin; the battery receiving space includes a battery latch positioned to receive the spring-loaded locking pin; the spring-loaded battery handle includes a planar handle cam surface and the spring-loaded locking pin includes a planar pin cam surface such that the handle cam surface engages the pin cam surface with movement of the battery handle relative to the battery body; the spring-loaded battery handle is spring-biased in a locked position; and the spring-loaded locking pin is spring-biased in an extended position and is movable to a retracted position in response to movement of the battery handle from the locked position to an unlocked position.
H01M 50/264 - Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders with fastening means, e.g. locks for cells or batteries, e.g. straps, tie rods or peripheral frames
B60K 1/04 - Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units of the electric storage means for propulsion
H01M 50/249 - Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders specially adapted for aircraft or vehicles, e.g. cars or trains
H01M 50/244 - Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method
30.
BATTERY RETENTION BLOCKS FOR A BATTERY RECEIVING SPACE OF A MATERIALS HANDLING VEHICLE, AND MATERIALS HANDLING VEHICLES INCORPORATING THE SAME
A materials handling vehicle including a battery receiving space, and a removable battery assembly, wherein: the removable battery assembly includes lateral battery faces, each including a longitudinal guide structure; the battery receiving space includes opposing retention blocks, each arranged on opposite sides of the battery receiving space, and each comprising a retention lever including a fixed end and a distal end; and the longitudinal guide structure of each lateral battery face includes a lever-receiving detent that is configured to receive the distal end of one of the retention levers.
H01M 50/249 - Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders specially adapted for aircraft or vehicles, e.g. cars or trains
H01M 50/244 - Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method
A system is provided comprising: a materials handling vehicle; a wearable remote control device comprising: a wireless communication system including a wireless transmitter; and a rechargeable power source; a receiver at the vehicle for receiving transmissions from the wireless transmitter; a controller at the vehicle that is communicably coupled to the receiver, the controller being responsive to receipt of the transmissions from the remote control device; and a charging station at the vehicle. The charging station may charge the rechargeable power source of the wearable remote control device. The charging station may comprise a visual indicator.
H02J 7/00 - Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
G05D 1/00 - Control of position, course, altitude, or attitude of land, water, air, or space vehicles, e.g. automatic pilot
G08B 5/38 - Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electromagnetic transmission using visible light sources using flashing light
A materials handling vehicle comprising a hitch, and a drive mechanism. The hitch comprises a latch and a receiving member. The latch is positionable between open and closed positions. The receiving member comprises a pair of inwardly curved side scoops and a central incline member provided between the pair of inwardly curved side scoops, each inwardly curved side scoop having an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, an inner surface, an outer surface opposite the inner surface, a rear surface, and a front surface opposite the rear surface. The rear and upper surfaces of the pair of inwardly curved side scoops define an open rear end of the receiving member, the upper surface being sloped at the open rear end. The central incline member and the upper surface of the pair of inwardly curved side scoops cooperate to lead a cart hook to engage the latch.
A materials handling vehicle comprising a hitch system, and a drive mechanism. The hitch system comprises a hitch and a hitch controller. The hitch comprises a latch, one or more sensors, an actuator, and a receiving member. The latch is positionable between open and closed positions. The actuator is positionable between retracted, intermediate, and extended positions. The receiving member is configured to lead a cart hook to engage the latch when in the closed position. The one or more sensors are configured to detect a position of the latch and a presence of the cart hook received within the receiving member. The hitch controller is configured to position the actuator in one of the retracted position, the intermediate position, and the extended position, and to position the latch in one of the open position and the closed position in response to signals received from the one or more sensors.
An electrically operated steering system (1) is provided for a vehicle (2) with a rack (3) for attaching the steering system (1) to a frame of the vehicle (2), two steerable wheels (4) that are pivotably attached to the rack (3), a rod element (5) arranged on the rack (3), which is slidable in its longitudinal direction in relation to the rack (3), a kinematic unit (13), which is coupled to the rod element (5) and which transforms a movement of the rod element (5) into a steering rotation of the wheels (4), an electric machine (6), which is mechanically connected to the rod element (5) for effecting the movement of the rod element (5), and a lateral force absorbing mechanism (7), which is configured for absorbing a lateral force produced by the kinematic unit (13) in relation to the rod element (5).
B62D 5/04 - Power-assisted or power-driven steering electrical, e.g. using an electric servo-motor connected to, or forming part of, the steering gear
B62D 7/15 - Steering linkage; Stub axles or their mountings for individually-pivoted wheels, e.g. on king-pins the pivotal axes being situated in more than one plane transverse to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle, e.g. all-wheel steering characterised by means varying the ratio between the steering angles of the steered wheels
B62D 7/08 - Steering linkage; Stub axles or their mountings for individually-pivoted wheels, e.g. on king-pins the pivotal axes being situated in a single plane transverse to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle
35.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VEHICLE POSITION CALIBRATION USING RACK LEG IDENTIFICATION AND MAST SWAY COMPENSATION
A materials handling vehicle includes a camera, odometry module, processor, and drive mechanism. The camera captures images of an identifier for a racking system aisle and a rack leg portion in the aisle. The processor uses the identifier to generate information indicative of an initial rack leg position and rack leg spacing in the aisle, generate an initial vehicle position using the initial rack leg position, generate a vehicle odometry-based position using odometry data and the initial vehicle position, detect a subsequent rack leg using a captured image, correlate the detected subsequent rack leg with an expected vehicle position using rack leg spacing, generate an odometry error signal based on a difference between the positions, and update the vehicle odometry-based position using the odometry error signal and/or generated mast sway compensation to use for end of aisle protection and/or in/out of aisle localization.
B66F 9/06 - Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks
B66F 9/20 - Means for actuating or controlling masts, platforms, or forks
G06V 20/56 - Context or environment of the image exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
36.
System comprising a multilevel warehouse racking system comprising tote transfer zones, materials handling vehicles, and transporters, and methods of use thereof
Goods storage and retrieval systems and materials handling vehicles are provided. The goods storage and retrieval system includes a multilevel warehouse racking system; a materials handling vehicle comprising a mast assembly, a picking attachment, and vehicle-based cart engagement hardware; a mobile storage cart; and a transporter comprising transporter-based engagement hardware. The transporter-based engagement hardware enables the transporter to engage, transport, and disengage the mobile storage cart. The vehicle-based cart engagement hardware is coupled to the mast assembly to (i) engage and disengage the mobile storage cart and (ii) transport the mobile storage cart to multiple levels of the multilevel warehouse racking system. The mast assembly and the picking attachment are configured to access multiple levels of the multilevel warehouse racking system. The picking attachment is configured to transfer totes between the multilevel warehouse racking system and the mobile storage cart.
System comprising a multilevel warehouse racking system comprising tote transfer zones, materials handling vehicles, and transporters, and methods of use thereof
Goods storage and retrieval systems and materials handling vehicles are provided. The goods storage and retrieval system includes a multilevel warehouse racking system; a materials handling vehicle comprising a mast assembly, a picking attachment, and vehicle-based cart engagement hardware; a mobile storage cart; and a transporter comprising transporter-based engagement hardware. The transporter-based engagement hardware enables the transporter to engage, transport, and disengage the mobile storage cart. The vehicle-based cart engagement hardware is coupled to the mast assembly to (i) engage and disengage the mobile storage cart and (ii) transport the mobile storage cart to multiple levels of the multilevel warehouse racking system. The mast assembly and the picking attachment are configured to access multiple levels of the multilevel warehouse racking system. The picking attachment is configured to transfer totes between the multilevel warehouse racking system and the mobile storage cart.
A processing device comprising a graphical user interface in an industrial vehicle is provided. The processing device comprises a touch screen display that receives touch gesture commands from a vehicle operator, memory storing executable instructions, and a processor in communication with the memory. The processor when executing the executable instructions: defines a plurality of widgets, wherein each widget comprises a visual representation of a current state of an associated function of the vehicle, displays a subset of the plurality of widgets on a portion of the touch screen display defining a plurality of widget spaces, and displays an icon tray on the touch screen display comprising one or more icons, in which at least one of the one or more icons corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of widgets.
G06F 3/0488 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
G06F 3/0482 - Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
G06F 3/04883 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
G06F 3/02 - Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
G06F 3/041 - Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
G06F 3/048 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
G06F 3/04817 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance using icons
A materials handling vehicle comprises a distributed processor system including a vehicle network that facilitates an exchange of information with vehicle electronic components, and a distributed multi-processor vehicle control architecture. The distributed multi-processor vehicle control architecture includes an embedded information core having a core processor communicably coupled to the vehicle network, and a tablet having a tablet processor, where the tablet is communicably couplable to, and detachable from the distributed multi-processor vehicle control architecture. When the tablet is detached from the distributed multi-processor vehicle control architecture, the core processor functions as a primary processor that communicates with vehicle electronic components by communicating therewith across the vehicle network. When the tablet is communicably attached to the distributed multi-processor vehicle control architecture, the tablet processor functions as the primary processor, and the core processor functions as a subordinate processor.
G05D 1/00 - Control of position, course, altitude, or attitude of land, water, air, or space vehicles, e.g. automatic pilot
H04W 12/03 - Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
H04W 80/06 - Transport layer protocols, e.g. TCP [Transport Control Protocol] over wireless
H04W 4/40 - Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
G06F 3/0488 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
40.
ON-BOARD CHARGING STATION FOR A REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE
A system includes a remote control device that is useable by an operator interacting with a materials handling vehicle. The remote control device includes a wireless communication system including a wireless transmitter and a rechargeable power source. The system further comprises: a receiver at the vehicle for receiving transmissions from the wireless transmitter; a controller at the vehicle that is communicably coupled to the receiver, the controller being responsive to receipt of transmissions from the remote control device; and a charging station at the vehicle, the charging station for charging the rechargeable power source of the remote control device.
G05D 1/00 - Control of position, course, altitude, or attitude of land, water, air, or space vehicles, e.g. automatic pilot
H04W 76/20 - Manipulation of established connections
H04W 4/80 - Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
H04W 76/11 - Allocation or use of connection identifiers
H04W 76/36 - Selective release of ongoing connections for reassigning the resources associated with the released connections
H04W 4/40 - Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
B60L 53/65 - Monitoring or controlling charging stations involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
B60L 53/68 - Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
B60L 58/12 - Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles for monitoring or controlling batteries responding to state of charge [SoC]
B60L 53/66 - Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
H02J 7/00 - Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
H02J 13/00 - Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network
A tiller head for an industrial truck is shown which comprises a central portion, a left handle portion that is attached to a left side of the central portion and a right handle portion that is attached to a right side of the central portion, which is opposite to its left side, and an actuating element. The handle portions and the central portion define a front side of the tiller head and a back side of the tiller head, which is opposite to its front side. The front side of the tiller head and the back side of the tiller head extend transverse to the left side of the central portion and the right side of the central portion. The actuating element has an operable front surface and an operable back surface, and the actuating element is mounted to a front side of the central portion.
An industrial system includes an electronic badge worn or otherwise transported by an industrial vehicle operator. The electronic badge has a housing, a processor, and a transceiver coupled to the processor that communicates on a personal-area network with a badge communicator that is provided on an industrial vehicle when the electronic badge and the badge communicator are in range of each other. Further, an activity sensor collects activity information about the industrial vehicle operator as the industrial vehicle operator performs work tasks. The electronic badge exchanges data collected by the activity sensor with the industrial vehicle, for communication to a remote server. An electronic message is communicated to the industrial vehicle for output to a display thereon, and the electronic message defines an assigned task that is based upon previously collected data from the activity sensor.
G06K 19/07 - Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards with integrated circuit chips
G06Q 10/06 - Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
G06K 7/10 - Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by corpuscular radiation
G06K 19/077 - Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
43.
Multi-field scanning tools in materials handling vehicles
A materials handling vehicle comprises an operator compartment, a compartment tower, a multi-field scanning tool, and mechanisms that facilitate movement along a travel plane in a warehouse. The tool establishes a scan field, and, within scan field bounds, an occupancy detection field and an obstacle detection field. Tool scanning hardware is configured to generate the scan field from a point of origin that is elevated relative to the operator compartment and to expand the scan field such that it intersects the operator compartment and extends laterally beyond lateral edges of the operator compartment such that the occupancy detection field falls within the operator compartment, the obstacle detection field falls outside of the operator compartment, and the multi-field scanning tool is configured to indicate the presence of an occupant in the occupancy detection field and obstacles in the obstacle detection field.
A layover bracket system is provided for supporting an industrial vehicle in a horizontal position on a floor surface. The layover bracket system includes a base section removably attached to a first portion of the vehicle at a first location, and an extension section removably attached to a second portion of the vehicle at a second location spaced apart in a first direction from the first location. The first direction is parallel to a vertical axis of the vehicle when positioned in an upright position. The extension section is pivotably coupled to the base section.
B62B 3/10 - Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheels; Steering devices therefor; Equipment therefor characterised by supports specially adapted to objects of definite shape
45.
Systems and methods for warehouse environment speed zone management
Systems and methods for a materials handling vehicle configured to navigate along a warehouse environment inventory transit surface, the vehicle including control architecture in communication with a drive mechanism, a materials handling mechanism, a speed zone sensing subsystem configured to provide an indication of whether the vehicle is in a speed zone, and a speed control processor configured to prompt the operator to reduce a vehicle speed of the vehicle to under a speed zone limit when the vehicle speed is approaching or in the speed zone, determine whether the vehicle speed is under the speed zone limit in the speed zone, and apply a speed cap to limit a maximum vehicle speed of the vehicle to a magnitude that is at or below the speed zone limit when the speed control processor has determined that the vehicle speed is under the speed zone limit in the speed zone.
B60K 31/00 - Vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed, i.e. preventing speed from exceeding an arbitrarily established velocity or maintaining speed at a particular velocity, as selected by the vehicle operat
B60Q 9/00 - Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups
G05D 1/02 - Control of position or course in two dimensions
A method is provided for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication between a remote control device comprising a peripheral BLE device and a controller on a materials handling vehicle comprising a central BLE device. The method comprises: polling via a plurality of connection requests, by the central BLE device, communicated with the peripheral BLE device with which the central BLE device is paired. The peripheral BLE device comprising one or more activatable switches. Based on the status of the one or more activatable switches, the peripheral BLE device sending reply messages to at least a portion of the plurality of connection requests in accordance with at least one of a first or a second communication operating mode. When operating in the first communication operating mode, the peripheral BLE device replies to only a portion of the plurality of connection requests, wherein each reply message is indicative of the status of the one or more activatable switches.
G05D 1/00 - Control of position, course, altitude, or attitude of land, water, air, or space vehicles, e.g. automatic pilot
H04W 4/80 - Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
A method is provided for wireless communication between a wireless remote control device comprising a peripheral device and a controller on a materials handling vehicle comprising a central device. The method may comprise: polling via a plurality of connection event requests, by the central device, communicated with the peripheral device with which the central device is paired, the peripheral device comprising one or more activatable switches. Based on the status of one or more activatable switches, the peripheral device sending reply messages to at least a portion of the plurality of connection requests in accordance with at least one communication operating mode of the peripheral device, wherein each reply message is indicative of the status of the one or more activatable switches. Calculating, by the central device, a number of missed messages.
G05D 1/00 - Control of position, course, altitude, or attitude of land, water, air, or space vehicles, e.g. automatic pilot
G08C 17/02 - Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link using a radio link
H04W 4/80 - Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
A materials handling vehicle comprising a path validation tool and a drive unit, steering unit, localization module, and navigation module that cooperate to navigate the vehicle along a warehouse travel path. The tool comprises warehouse layout data, a proposed travel path, vehicle kinematics, and a dynamic vehicle boundary that approximates the vehicle physical periphery. The tool executes path validation logic to determine vehicle pose along the proposed travel path, update the dynamic vehicle boundary to account for changes in vehicle speed and steering angle, determine whether the dynamic vehicle boundary is likely to intersect obstacles represented in the layout data based on the determined vehicle pose at candidate positions along the proposed travel path, determine a degree of potential impingement at the candidate positions by referring to the dynamic vehicle boundary and obstacle data, and modify the proposed travel path to mitigate the degree of potential impingement.
A work assist system is provided for an industrial vehicle. The work assist system includes a support structure having a portion including a predefined cross-sectional shape. The work assist system further includes a clamp member having coupling structure for removably coupling the clamp member to the support structure portion, and mounting structure that removably supports a work assist item that is usable by an operator located in an operator compartment of the vehicle.
F16M 13/02 - Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
A control system for an industrial vehicle includes a badge communicator and an information linking device. The badge communicator has a transceiver for short range communication with electronic badges that are within a fixed short range of the badge communicator, defining a first zone. The information linking device is programmed to execute program code. The program code extracts a current state of an operating parameter read from an industrial vehicle network bus, generates a second zone within the first zone that is defined based upon the extracted industrial vehicle operating parameter, detects a presence of an electronic badge within the first zone, determines whether the electronic badge is within the second zone, performs a first action if the detected electronic badge is not within the second zone, and performs a second action if the electronic badge is within the second zone.
G06K 19/07 - Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards with integrated circuit chips
F16P 3/14 - Safety devices acting in conjunction with the control or operation of a machine; Control arrangements requiring the simultaneous use of two or more parts of the body with means, e.g. feelers, which in case of the presence of a body part of a person in or near the danger zone influence the control or operation of the machine the means being photocells or other devices sensitive without mechanical contact
G07C 5/00 - Registering or indicating the working of vehicles
G05D 1/02 - Control of position or course in two dimensions
G06Q 10/08 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
A process for recommending a fleet of industrial vehicles comprises receiving, via a user interface, input variables concerning a warehouse configuration and operational variables concerning a fleet configuration. Instances of a warehouse model, an operations model, vehicle specifications, and workflow parameters are created where the workflow parameters are established workflow models derived from the warehouse configuration and vehicle specifications. A workflow model is simulated using kinematic models of the vehicles by defining a workflow model defining tasks of the industrial vehicles within an environment associated with performance of an operation, wherein the workflow model is based on the workflow parameters and associating the tasks with the kinematic models, which incorporate cutback curves. The kinematic model is applied to the workflow model based upon travel paths of the workflow model to determine results. A recommendation for vehicles of a vehicle type based on the simulation results is recommended.
G05D 1/00 - Control of position, course, altitude, or attitude of land, water, air, or space vehicles, e.g. automatic pilot
G05D 1/02 - Control of position or course in two dimensions
G06Q 50/28 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading, distribution or shipping
G07C 5/08 - Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle, or waiting time
B60L 58/10 - Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles for monitoring or controlling batteries
G06Q 10/0631 - Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
G06Q 10/0639 - Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
G06Q 10/067 - Enterprise or organisation modelling
G06Q 10/06 - Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
G07C 5/00 - Registering or indicating the working of vehicles
G01C 21/20 - Instruments for performing navigational calculations
An industrial vehicle comprising a tag reader, a reader module, and a diagnostic tag, wherein the diagnostic tag is coupled to the industrial truck within a read range of the tag reader. The reader module and the tag reader cooperate to identify the diagnostic tag and individual tags of a tag layout and the reader module discriminates between the individual tags of the tag layout and the diagnostic tag and the individual tags of the tag layout, correlates an identified individual tag of the tag layout with tag data, correlates an identified diagnostic tag with operation of the tag reader, and generates a missing tag signal if the diagnostic tag is not identified or the operation of the tag reader is not within specified operating parameters.
A method is provided for operating a materials handling vehicle comprising: monitoring, by a processor, vehicle acceleration in a direction of travel of the vehicle during a manual operation by an operator of the vehicle when the vehicle is traveling in a first vehicle orientation; collecting and storing, by the processor, data related to the monitored vehicle acceleration; receiving, by the processor, a request to implement a semi-automated driving operation; calculating, by the processor, a maximum vehicle acceleration based on acceleration data comprising the stored data, wherein the data related to the monitored vehicle acceleration used in calculating the maximum vehicle acceleration comprises only the vehicle acceleration data in the direction of travel of the vehicle collected when the vehicle is traveling in the first vehicle orientation. Based at least in part on the maximum vehicle acceleration, controlling, by the processor, implementation of the semi-automated driving operation.
G05D 13/62 - Control of linear speed; Control of angular speed; Control of acceleration or deceleration, e.g. of a prime mover characterised by the use of electric means, e.g. use of a tachometric dynamo, use of a transducer converting an electric value into a displacement
B62B 5/00 - Accessories or details specially adapted for hand carts
B60K 31/00 - Vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed, i.e. preventing speed from exceeding an arbitrarily established velocity or maintaining speed at a particular velocity, as selected by the vehicle operat
Systems and methods for site commissioning to generate accurate representations and models of warehouse infrastructure. In one embodiment, a method of site commissioning includes receiving point cloud data for warehouse infrastructure and using point cloud data by a site commissioning tool to overlay infrastructure models, and generate an infrastructure model. The site commissioning tool may combine bay models with three-dimensional location information of the point cloud data to generate accurate representations of the warehouse infrastructure including the location of infrastructure elements and characteristics of the warehouse infrastructure, such as bay opening dimensions. Generating an accurate representation of bay models provides a parametric definition of as-built infrastructure. A method is also provided for condition point cloud data for use in a site commissioning tool. Some embodiments are directed to a site commissioning user interface for a site commissioning tool.
G06F 30/13 - Architectural design, e.g. computer-aided architectural design [CAAD] related to design of buildings, bridges, landscapes, production plants or roads
G06F 30/12 - Geometric CAD characterised by design entry means specially adapted for CAD, e.g. graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for CAD
According to the embodiments described herein, system and methods for determining relative pose of materials handling vehicles in an industrial environment may include utilizing UWB antenna array systems respective mounted on the materials handling vehicles to send mutually received information to determine the relative pose between the vehicles, determining one or more fields of each materials handling vehicle, and determining one or more overlapping fields between the materials handling vehicles based on the determined one or more fields and the relative pose. A vehicle control may be implemented based on the determined relative pose and the overlapping fields as a field enforcement, such as a control action to avoid collision between the vehicles.
G01S 5/10 - Position of receiver fixed by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements
G01S 5/02 - Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position-line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations using radio waves
G07C 5/08 - Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle, or waiting time
H04B 1/7163 - Spread spectrum techniques using impulse radio
56.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RELATIVE POSE SENSING AND FIELD ENFORCEMENT OF MATERIALS HANDLING VEHICLES USING ULTRA-WIDEBAND RADIO TECHNOLOGY
According to the embodiments described herein, system and methods for determining relative pose of materials handling vehicles in an industrial environment may include utilizing UWB antenna array systems respective mounted on the materials handling vehicles to send mutually received information to determine the relative pose between the vehicles, determining one or more fields of each materials handling vehicle, and determining one or more overlapping fields between the materials handling vehicles based on the determined one or more fields and the relative pose. A vehicle control may be implemented based on the determined relative pose and the overlapping fields as a field enforcement, such as a control action to avoid collision between the vehicles.
B66F 9/06 - Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks
According to the subject matter of the present disclosure, an automated warehouse environment is provided where designated materials handling vehicles are programmed to initiate permission inquiries at primary and secondary nodes of a travel route in the warehouse environment. Alternatively, or additionally, the present disclosure also presents an automated warehouse environment where an asset manager comprises an occupancy grid generator, and a designated materials handling vehicle is programmed to avoid otherwise unpermitted travel along path segments that overlap the locked cells of the occupancy grid.
B65G 1/137 - Storage devices mechanical with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
B66F 9/06 - Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks
G05D 1/02 - Control of position or course in two dimensions
A computer-implemented process of tracking events is carried out by detecting that a first badge is within a predetermined range of a second badge, thus designating an encounter, and performing, by processor executing instructions read out from memory, an event logging transaction responsive to the encounter. The event logging transaction is performed by receiving, from the first badge, an electronic message characterizing an observation made by the user of the first badge relative to a user of the second badge, converting the electronic message received from the first badge into a pinpoint response, and generating an event record comprising an identification of an event type, and the pinpoint response.
G08B 25/10 - Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems characterised by the transmission medium using wireless transmission systems
59.
System and method for controlling a maximum vehicle speed for an industrial vehicle based on a calculated load
Controlling a maximum vehicle speed for an industrial vehicle includes determining, by a processor of the industrial vehicle, a torque applied to the traction wheel of the industrial vehicle; converting the torque to an equivalent force value; and determining an acceleration of the industrial vehicle while the torque is applied to the traction wheel. Additional steps include calculating a load being moved by the industrial vehicle, based at least in part on the acceleration and the equivalent force value; and controlling the maximum speed of the industrial vehicle based on the calculated load being moved by the industrial vehicle.
A remote control device that is to be worn on the appendage of an operator includes a base portion, a wireless communication system, a control, and an insert member. The wireless communication system includes a wireless transmitter for transmitting wireless commands from the remote control device. The control is communicably coupled to the wireless communication system, wherein actuation of the control causes the wireless transmitter to transmit a wireless command. The insert member is removably attached to the base portion.
Testing operational characteristics of a remote control device associated with a materials handling vehicle can include waiting for receipt of a first input indicative that a first button of the remote control device has been pressed, wherein the first button comprises a travel button of the remote control device. The testing may further comprise waiting for receipt, subsequent to receiving the first input, of a second input indicative that at least a second button of the remote control device has been pressed, wherein the second button relates to a first auxiliary vehicle function. The testing still further comprises determining whether or not a predetermined button pressing sequence is successful based at least in part on receiving or not receiving the first and second inputs; and optionally driving a display on the vehicle to provide a visual indication that the button pressing sequence is successful or not successful based on the determination.
A materials handling vehicle receives a wirelessly communicated performance tuning profile, and responsive thereto, adjusts at least one operating capability. The performance tuning profile can be updated dynamically as the materials handling vehicle is operated in a work environment based upon a number of different factors including operational, operator, environmental, other, or combinations thereof. Additional aspects provide a graphical user interface that allows an individual such as a supervisor to create a library of performance tuning profiles, and create and/or program a rules engine to automatically convey an appropriate performance tuning profile to a corresponding materials handling vehicle responsive to detecting a corresponding event associated with a programmed rule.
G05B 19/4155 - Numerical control (NC), i.e. automatically operating machines, in particular machine tools, e.g. in a manufacturing environment, so as to execute positioning, movement or co-ordinated operations by means of programme data in numerical form characterised by programme execution, i.e. part programme or machine function execution, e.g. selection of a programme
Vehicles, systems, and methods for navigating or tracking the navigation of a materials handling vehicle along a surface that may include a camera and vehicle functions to match two-dimensional image information from camera data associated with the input image of overhead features with a plurality of global target locations of a warehouse map to generate a plurality of candidate optical targets, an optical target associated with each global target location and a code; filter the targets to determine a candidate optical target; decode the target to identify the associated code; identify an optical target associated with the identified code; determine a camera metric relative to the identified optical target and the position and orientation of the identified optical target in the warehouse map; calculate a vehicle pose based on the camera metric; and navigate the materials handling vehicle utilizing the vehicle pose.
A materials handling vehicle including a power unit supported on wheels, and a mast assembly supported on the power unit. The mast assembly includes four or more telescoping sections defined by pairs of laterally spaced rails. An operator compartment is supported on the mast assembly for vertical movement relative to the mast assembly and includes a front wall defining a side of the operator compartment adjacent to the mast assembly. The laterally spaced rails have a height that is generally equal to the height of the front wall. A dash is located adjacent to the operator compartment.
A spacer assembly and method for using same to fix a first component to a second component are provided. The method includes positioning the first and second spacer segments between the first and second components, the first and second spacer segments each including an inner face, an opposite outer face, and an exterior surface extending along a longitudinal axis between the inner face and the outer face. The exterior surfaces of the first and second spacer segments are coaxially aligned and secured by a securing device such that the inner faces of the first and second spacer segments define supplementary non-perpendicular angles relative to the longitudinal axis and the outer faces of the first and second spacer segments are parallel to one another. The securing device and the first and second spacer segments are removed after the first component is mechanically coupled to the second component.
B23K 37/00 - Auxiliary devices or processes, not specially adapted to a procedure covered by only one of the other main groups of this subclass
B23K 37/04 - Auxiliary devices or processes, not specially adapted to a procedure covered by only one of the other main groups of this subclass for holding or positioning work
68.
INDUSTRIAL VEHICLE DISTANCE AND RANGE MEASUREMENT DEVICE CALIBRATION
Processes and systems for calibrating a distance and range measurement device coupled to an industrial vehicle are disclosed. The calibration requires no physical movement of the distance and range measurement device. Instead, actual measurements from the device are used with nominal detection zones and nominal measurements to create modified detection zones to detect objects within the modified detection zones.
G01S 17/42 - Simultaneous measurement of distance and other coordinates
B66F 9/06 - Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks
69.
Materials handling vehicle charging system comprising a floor-mounted charging plate
A materials handling vehicle including a vehicle-side charging contact assembly coupled to a battery, a steerable drive wheel defining a drive wheel track width W, and a pair of load wheels defining a load wheel gap G between the pair of load wheels that is larger than the drive wheel track width W. A charging station includes a pair of floor-side charging contacts configured to transfer charging current to the vehicle-side charging contact assembly. The pair of floor-side charging contacts define an inner contact spacing S1 that is larger than the drive wheel track width W, and an outer contact spacing S2 that is larger than the inner contact spacing S1 and smaller than the load wheel gap G to permit passage of the steerable drive wheel between the floor-side charging contacts, followed by passage of the pair of load wheels outside of the floor-side charging contacts.
A materials handling vehicle is provided having: a power unit comprising at least one wheel; a mast assembly coupled to the power unit comprising at least one mast weldment; and a platform assembly. The platform assembly comprising: a floorboard upon which an operator may stand; a support wall connected to the floorboard and positioned adjacent to the mast assembly, the floorboard and the support wall defining an operator compartment of the platform assembly; at least one operator control assembly positioned to allow for operation by an operator located within the operator compartment; and a non-horizontal viewing window provided in the support wall.
An operator control system is provided for a materials handling vehicle, the materials handling vehicle including an operator station having a support structure. The operator control system includes an operator control assembly having a housing mounted to or integral with the support structure, and at least one control element for controlling a function of the vehicle. One or both of the housing and/or the control element is positionable in a plurality of positions.
A materials handling vehicle technology monitor receives wirelessly, from a fleet of materials handling vehicles, electronic vehicle records. Each electronic vehicle record includes technology feature data recorded by a controller on an associated materials handling vehicle. Typically, the electronic vehicle record is generated in response to a corresponding technology feature on the materials handling vehicle being operated in a work environment. Moreover, each electronic vehicle record includes an operator identification of an operator of the materials handling vehicle at the time the technology feature data is recorded. The monitor also generates for each operator, an electronic measurement based upon a comparison of expected technology feature usage, e.g., a threshold, compared to the technology feature data in the received electronic vehicle records, which are associated with the corresponding operator. The process further comprises outputting to a dashboard, a graphical representation of the generated measurements.
G07C 5/12 - Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle, or waiting time in graphical form
G07C 5/08 - Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle, or waiting time
G05D 1/00 - Control of position, course, altitude, or attitude of land, water, air, or space vehicles, e.g. automatic pilot
G05D 1/02 - Control of position or course in two dimensions
G07C 5/00 - Registering or indicating the working of vehicles
A vehicle-initiated cadenced operator interaction system introduces an operational concept to a vehicle operator via a machine-initiated interaction. Thereafter, interaction is initiated by the industrial vehicle according to a cadence that provides a gap between interactions so that the operator can demonstrate the behavior associated with the introduced concept. Industrial vehicle data associated with the content of the interaction(s) is analyzed and evaluated against pre-defined operational criteria to determine whether the operator is demonstrating the appropriate skill/behavior associated with the interaction(s). Responsive to the operator's demonstrated ability, the system can modify operation of the vehicle to tune the industrial vehicle to the operator. The system can also extend to the operating environment, by interacting with electronic devices, vehicles, machines, etc., in the operating environment to tune the environment to the operator.
B60W 50/10 - Interpretation of driver requests or demands
B60W 40/08 - Estimation or calculation of driving parameters for road vehicle drive control systems not related to the control of a particular sub-unit related to drivers or passengers
A goods-to-man warehousing system comprises a multilevel racking system, a plurality of mobile storage units, a storage unit transporter, a pick-place vehicle, a mobile storage unit transfer node, and a warehouse management computing hub. The multilevel racking system comprises a vertically and horizontally distributed array of storage bays. One or more of the mobile storage units are positioned in respective ones of the storage bays of the multilevel racking system. The pick-place vehicle comprises pick-place hardware that enables the pick-place vehicle to transfer mobile storage units between a plurality of different, vertically displaced storage bays of the multilevel racking system and the mobile storage unit transfer node of the goods-to-man warehousing system. The storage unit transporter comprises storage unit engagement hardware that enables the storage unit transporter to transport mobile storage units to or from the mobile storage unit transfer node of the goods-to-man warehousing system.
A system is provided comprising: a materials handling vehicle; a wearable remote control device comprising: a wireless communication system including a wireless transmitter; and a rechargeable power source; a receiver at the vehicle for receiving transmissions from the wireless transmitter; a controller at the vehicle that is communicably coupled to the receiver, the controller being responsive to receipt of the transmissions from the remote control device; and a charging station at the vehicle. The charging station may charge the rechargeable power source of the wearable remote control device. The charging station may comprise a visual indicator.
H02J 7/00 - Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
G05D 1/00 - Control of position, course, altitude, or attitude of land, water, air, or space vehicles, e.g. automatic pilot
G08B 5/38 - Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electromagnetic transmission using visible light sources using flashing light
A process for calibrating a distance and range measurement device coupled to an industrial vehicle comprises taking a first measurement of an emission from the device at a first yaw angle relative to a roll axis of the device. A second measurement of the emission at a second yaw angle relative to the roll axis is taken. The second yaw angle is within an angular tolerance of the first yaw angle but in an opposite direction. The device is calibrated relative to the roll axis when the first and second measurements are within a tolerance of each other. A third measurement of the distance and range measurement device beam emitted from the distance and range measurement device at a pitch angle is taken. If the third measurement and a virtual emission length are within a tolerance, then the device is calibrated with respect to the pitch axis.
Operating a materials handling vehicle includes monitoring, by a controller, a first vehicle drive parameter during a first manual operation of the vehicle by an operator; monitoring, by the controller, the first vehicle drive parameter during a second manual operation of the vehicle by the operator; receiving, by the controller after the first manual operation of the vehicle and the second manual operation of the vehicle, a request to implement a semi-automated driving operation; calculating, by the controller, a first weighted average based on the monitored first vehicle drive parameter during the first manual operation of the vehicle and the monitored first vehicle parameter during the second manual operation of the vehicle; and based at least in part on the calculated first weighted average, controlling, by the controller, implementation of the semi-automated driving operation.
A method for operating a materials handling vehicle is provided and comprises: monitoring, by a controller, a first vehicle drive parameter during a manual operation of the vehicle by an operator; storing, by the controller, data related to the monitored first vehicle drive parameter. The controller is configured to use the stored data for implementing a semi-automated driving operation of the vehicle subsequent to the manual operation of the vehicle. The method further comprises: detecting, by the controller, operation of the vehicle indicative of a start of a pick operation occurring during the manual operation of the vehicle; and based on detecting the start of the pick operation, resetting, by the controller, the stored data related to the monitored first vehicle drive parameter.
A wheel guard is provided for use on a material handling vehicle comprising a steering assembly, an axle extending through the steering assembly and a steer wheel mounted on the axle. The wheel guard may comprise: a front plate to be positioned adjacent to the steer wheel; an axle support coupled to and extending transverse to the front plate and comprising an axle aperture through which the vehicle axle is to be extended, the wheel guard to be rotatable about the axle; and a stop coupled to at least one of the front plate or the axle support to limit rotational movement of the wheel guard about the axle.
A processor on an industrial vehicle is programmed to identify a metric that characterizes an event associated with an operator of the industrial vehicle, where the metric has a performance parameter to evaluate against the event, and a behavior modification action that defines a desired operator behavior in response to the event. The processor is further operatively programmed to monitor for the event, and record event data that characterizes a response of the vehicle operator to the event. In response to detecting an event, the processor evaluates the recorded event data against the performance parameter to determine whether the vehicle operator demonstrated appropriate behavior for the event, computes a vehicle operator score based upon the evaluation, and performs the behavior modification action where the operator has not been inculcated to respond to the event.
A plurality of control elements extend from the base portion of a control module in a materials handling vehicle. The control elements are located adjacent to one another, wherein at least one of the control elements includes mounting structure that permits the control element to be selectively mounted to the base portion in at least first and second positions. The first position defines a first distance between the control element and an immediately adjacent control element and the second position defines a second distance between the control element and the immediately adjacent control element, the second distance being greater than the first.
G05G 1/01 - Arrangements of two or more controlling members with respect to one another
G05G 1/06 - Controlling members for hand-actuation by pivoting movement, e.g. levers - Details of their grip parts
G05G 9/047 - Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only in which movement in two or more ways can occur simultaneously the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks
B66F 9/07 - Floor-to-roof stacking devices, e.g. stacker cranes, retrievers
88.
Materials handling vehicle and goods storage and retrieval system comprising mobile storage carts, transporters, and materials handling vehicles
Goods storage and retrieval systems and materials handling vehicles are provided. The goods storage and retrieval system includes a multilevel warehouse racking system; a materials handling vehicle comprising a mast assembly, a picking attachment, and vehicle-based cart engagement hardware; a mobile storage cart; and a transporter comprising transporter-based engagement hardware. The transporter-based engagement hardware enables the transporter to engage, transport, and disengage the mobile storage cart. The vehicle-based cart engagement hardware is coupled to the mast assembly to (i) engage and disengage the mobile storage cart and (ii) transport the mobile storage cart to multiple levels of the multilevel warehouse racking system. The mast assembly and the picking attachment are configured to access multiple levels of the multilevel warehouse racking system. The picking attachment is configured to transfer totes between the multilevel warehouse racking system and the mobile storage cart.
System comprising a multilevel warehouse racking system comprising tote transfer zones, materials handling vehicles, and transporters, and methods of use thereof
Goods storage and retrieval systems and materials handling vehicles are provided. The goods storage and retrieval system includes a multilevel warehouse racking system; a materials handling vehicle comprising a mast assembly, a picking attachment, and vehicle-based cart engagement hardware; a mobile storage cart; and a transporter comprising transporter-based engagement hardware. The transporter-based engagement hardware enables the transporter to engage, transport, and disengage the mobile storage cart. The vehicle-based cart engagement hardware is coupled to the mast assembly to (i) engage and disengage the mobile storage cart and (ii) transport the mobile storage cart to multiple levels of the multilevel warehouse racking system. The mast assembly and the picking attachment are configured to access multiple levels of the multilevel warehouse racking system. The picking attachment is configured to transfer totes between the multilevel warehouse racking system and the mobile storage cart.
A method is provided for controlling a light source device associated with a materials handling vehicle, wherein the materials handling vehicle includes one or more sensing devices, comprising: sensing via the one or more sensing devices a first distance from a left side of the vehicle to a first boundary object and a second distance from a right side of the vehicle to a second boundary object; controlling the light source device to designate a first area to the left side of the vehicle as either a limited operation area or a non-limited operation area and to designate a second area to the right side of the vehicle as either a limited operation area or a non-limited operation area.
B60Q 1/32 - Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating vehicle sides
G01S 7/481 - Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements
G01S 17/931 - Lidar systems, specially adapted for specific applications for anti-collision purposes of land vehicles
91.
Position assistance system for a materials handling vehicle
A materials handling vehicle includes a power unit, a load handling assembly and a positioning assistance system that provides assistance to an operator that is driving the vehicle. The assistance provided by the positioning assistance system includes at least one of an audible, tactile, or visual cue to indicate at least one of: a distance from the vehicle to a boundary object; or a heading of the vehicle with respect to the boundary object.
G01S 17/931 - Lidar systems, specially adapted for specific applications for anti-collision purposes of land vehicles
B60Q 1/32 - Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating vehicle sides
G01S 7/481 - Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements
G05D 1/00 - Control of position, course, altitude, or attitude of land, water, air, or space vehicles, e.g. automatic pilot
G06V 20/58 - Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
92.
Modify vehicle parameter based on vehicle position information
A materials handling vehicle includes: a power unit including: a steered wheel, and a steering device for generating a steer control signal; a load handling assembly coupled to the power unit; a controller located on the power unit for receiving the steer control signal; and a sensing device on the power unit and coupled to the controller. The sensing device monitoring areas in front of and next to the vehicle. Based on sensing device data, the controller may modify at least one of the following vehicle parameters: a maximum allowable turning angle or a steered-wheel-to-steering-device ratio.
G01S 17/931 - Lidar systems, specially adapted for specific applications for anti-collision purposes of land vehicles
B60Q 1/32 - Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating vehicle sides
G01S 7/481 - Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements
G05D 1/00 - Control of position, course, altitude, or attitude of land, water, air, or space vehicles, e.g. automatic pilot
G06V 20/58 - Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
G01S 17/02 - Systems using the reflection of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
A process for automating control of an industrial vehicle based on location comprises scanning an environment in a travel direction of the industrial vehicle, by using an optical scanner affixed to the industrial vehicle. A marker defined by a series of tags is identified by recursively receiving a reflection of the optical scanner; determining if the reflection is indicative of an optical tag; and concatenating the indication of an optical tag to the marker. Once the marker is identified, the marker is transformed into an environmental condition and a status of the vehicle is determined, where the status correlates to the environmental condition. Further, an automated control is applied on the industrial vehicle based on the environmental condition and the status of the industrial vehicle.
Systems and methods for a materials handling vehicle to navigate a vehicle transit surface in a warehouse environment including a navigation subsystem configured to cooperate with a traction control unit, a braking system, a steering assembly, and an obstacle detection subsystem to: determine whether the materials handling vehicle is approaching, or has arrived at, a potentially contested intersection; associate with the intersection pre-positioned warehouse object data, a set of road rules, and obstacle data; and navigate the materials handling vehicle through the intersection utilizing warehouse navigation maneuvers in combination with the associated set of road rules, obstacle avoidance maneuvers, or both, the warehouse navigation maneuvers accounting for the associated pre-positioned warehouse object data and the obstacle avoidance maneuvers accounting for the obstacle data derived from the obstacle detection subsystem.
A processing device having a graphical user interface includes a touch screen display that receives touch gesture commands from a vehicle operator and a controller. In operation, computer code implements a set of widgets such that at least one widget is normally viewable on the touch screen display. The set of widgets are organized to include at least one home screen, such as a motion home screen that displays at least one travel related widget, a lift home screen that displays at least one lift related widget, etc. When a current operating state of a control module of the industrial vehicle indicates that a designated control is engaged, the controller causes the display to snap to the associated home screen position.
G06F 3/041 - Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
G06F 3/04883 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
G06F 3/02 - Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
G06F 3/0482 - Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
G06F 3/04817 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance using icons
B60K 35/00 - Arrangement or adaptations of instruments
B60K 37/06 - Arrangement of fittings on dashboard of controls, e.g. control knobs
G06F 3/0488 - Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
A computer-implemented process receives into memory, information designating a task to be performed on an industrial vehicle. The task has a metric associated therewith. The process also extracts vehicle operational data that is generated on the industrial vehicle in response to the industrial vehicle executing the task. The process further receives into memory, information identifying a set of target scores, each target score of the set of target scores defining a different measure of performance associated with the task. The process yet further computes a task evaluation score for each target score in the set of target scores based upon the corresponding measure of performance associated with the task, and creates an adjusted task evaluation indicative of industrial vehicle performance that takes into account an aggregation of the task evaluation score computed for each target score in the set of target scores.
G05B 15/02 - Systems controlled by a computer electric
G01C 21/00 - Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups
G07C 5/08 - Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle, or waiting time
G06Q 10/06 - Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
G06Q 10/0639 - Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
98.
NORMALIZING PERFORMANCE DATA ACROSS INDUSTRIAL VEHICLES
Approaches are provided for normalizing performance data for the operation of industrial vehicles. The approaches comprise categorizing operations of an industrial vehicle into distinct, measureable activities. The approaches further comprise measuring the actual usage of the industrial vehicle as a function of each category of operation and wirelessly transmitting that measured usage to a remote server. The approaches also comprise associating for each category, a weighted impact on the work performed by each category as a function of energy consumed in performing that work.
G06Q 10/06 - Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
G07C 5/08 - Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle, or waiting time
G07C 5/00 - Registering or indicating the working of vehicles
99.
Electrically operated steering system for a vehicle
The invention relates to an electrically operated steering system (1) for a vehicle (2) with a rack (3) for attaching the steering system (1) to a vehicle frame of the vehicle (2), two steerable wheels (4) that are pivotably attached to the rack (3), a rod element (5) arranged on the rack (3), which is slidable in its longitudinal direction in relation to the rack (3), a kinematic unit (13) which is coupled to the rod element (5) and which transforms a movement of the rod element (5) into a steering rotation of the wheels (4), an electric machine (6), which is mechanically connected to the rod element (5) for effecting the movement of the rod element (5), and a lateral force absorbing mechanism (7) which is configured for absorbing a lateral force produced by the kinematic unit (13) in relation to the rod element (5). The invention further relates to a vehicle (2) comprising such a steering system (1).
B62D 7/15 - Steering linkage; Stub axles or their mountings for individually-pivoted wheels, e.g. on king-pins the pivotal axes being situated in more than one plane transverse to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle, e.g. all-wheel steering characterised by means varying the ratio between the steering angles of the steered wheels
B62D 5/04 - Power-assisted or power-driven steering electrical, e.g. using an electric servo-motor connected to, or forming part of, the steering gear
B62D 7/08 - Steering linkage; Stub axles or their mountings for individually-pivoted wheels, e.g. on king-pins the pivotal axes being situated in a single plane transverse to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle
Industrial vehicle monitoring for modification of vehicle operator behavior comprises storing data identifying an event associated with the operation of an industrial vehicle, the data having a performance parameter to evaluate against the event. Further, operation of the industrial vehicle is monitored for an event. When an occurrence of the event is detected, event data that characterizes an action of a vehicle operator is recorded into memory. The recorded event data is evaluated against the performance parameter to determine whether the vehicle operator demonstrated appropriate behavior for the detected event, and a behavior modification action is determined based on the evaluation of the recorded event data against the performance parameter. An output message is conveyed on the industrial vehicle to perform the behavior modification action.
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