Crown Equipment Corporation

Andreas Simon

Juergen Buchmann

Sebastian Theos

Lewis Henry Manci

Sebastian Sick

Christian Molnar

Johannes Nachtigal

René Konzack

Alfonso Costas

Alexander Peters

Jürgen Buchmann

Thomas Gumpp

Sebastian Theos (aka Sick)

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.

Adaptive acceleration for materials handling vehicle

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.

Indirect electronic badge tracking

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 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.

Automating control of an industrial vehicle

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.

Lighting floor on sides of material handling vehicle to indicate limited or non-limited area

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.

Modify vehicle parameter based on vehicle position information

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.

Based on detected start of picking operation, resetting stored data related to monitored drive parameter

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 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.

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.

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 in 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.

Industrial vehicle control based upon zones

A system for adjusting control of an industrial vehicle comprises a badge communicator that communicates with electronic badges that are in short range proximity of the industrial vehicle; and a controller coupled to memory, wherein the controller executes program code stored in the memory to adjust control of operating parameters of the industrial vehicle. The controller executes the program code to receive a badge identifier wirelessly transmitted by a detected electronic badge and identify a role associated with the badge identifier. Based on the role associated with the badge identifier, the controller modifies a set point of the industrial vehicle from a first set point to a second set point by communicating information concerning the set point to a vehicle control module of the electronic vehicle.

Adjusting control of an industrial vehicle based on an electronic badge

A system for controlling an industrial vehicle comprises an information linking device, a badge communicator, an operator badge, and a controller. The controller controls the industrial vehicle operating state by identifying that an operator possessing the operator badge has approached the industrial vehicle, communicating with the server via the information linking device to authenticate the operator as authorized to operate the industrial vehicle, and pairing the operator badge with the industrial vehicle upon determining that the operator is authorized to operate the industrial vehicle. Moreover, the controller controls the industrial vehicle operating state by controlling the industrial vehicle based upon a location of the operator badge relative to the industrial vehicle.

Electronic badge to authenticate and track industrial vehicle operator

Electronic badges are indirectly tracked by detecting, by a badge communicator on a select industrial vehicle of a fleet of industrial vehicles, the presence of an electronic badge and performing a badge logging transaction in response to detecting the electronic badge. The badge logging transaction includes receiving, by the badge communicator, a badge identifier transmitted by the detected electronic badge. The badge logging transaction also includes determining, by the badge communicator, an offset measurement of the electronic badge relative to the select industrial vehicle, electronically determining a vehicle location of the select industrial vehicle, and identifying a badge location based upon the determined vehicle location and the measured offset. The badge logging transaction can also include generating a time stamp, and wirelessly communicating a badge locator message to a remote server, the badge locator message including the badge identifier, the badge location, and the timestamp.

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Munich, Germany

Andreas Simon