Crown Equipment Corporation

Lewis Henry Manci

Lucas B Waltz

Philip W Swift

Andreas Simon

Juergen Buchmann

Sebastian Sick

Timothy A Wellman

James Francis Schloemer

Vernon W Siefring

George Robert Wetterer

Anthony T Castaneda

Mark E Schumacher

Matthew M Green

James V Kraimer

Sebastian Theos

Jay G Pollack

Brian M Lambert

Eugene G Bruns

Gary J May

Kevin Anthony Gilliland

William C Jones

John Ivan Koeper

Jesse Wershing

Jeffry D Dues

Rhett Eugene Snyder

Sebastian Theos (aka Sick)

George R Wetterer

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 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.

Industrial vehicle feedback system

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.

Dynamic operator behavior analyzer

A process of providing dynamic industrial vehicle feedback comprises storing in memory, data identifying a vehicle-based event that characterizes an operation of an industrial vehicle. Further, the process comprises storing into memory, operation information collected from an electronic component on the industrial vehicle that is associated with the identified event. The collected operation information characterizes a current operating state of the industrial vehicle as the industrial vehicle is being operated. The process further comprises detecting that the event has occurred based upon the collected operation information and generating an output message based on the detected event and the collected operation information. The output message is then conveyed on the industrial vehicle.

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.

When an industrial vehicle encounters a geo-feature, one or more messages for conveyance on the industrial vehicle are determined based on a current operating state of the industrial vehicle and an expected operating condition associated with the encountered geo-feature. In an example implementation, the geo-feature can implement aisle control in a warehouse or similar environment to ensure that only authorized vehicles are permitted to enter the aisle. Here, authorization may be predicated upon an assigned task from a warehouse management system. In another example implementation, the industrial vehicle includes a display that provides a graphical representation of the geo-feature.

Industrial vehicle geo-feature system

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

Dynamic industrial vehicle monitoring for modification of vehicle operator behavior comprises identifying a metric that characterizes an event associated with the operator of an industrial vehicle, the metric having a pre-action trigger that defines when the event is predicted to occur, a performance parameter to evaluate against the event and a behavior modification action that corresponds to a desired operator behavior in response to the event. Monitoring operation of the industrial vehicle is carried out for the event. Upon detecting an occurrence of the event, event data is recorded that characterizes a response of a vehicle operator to the event. The recorded event data is evaluated against at least one performance parameter associated with the corresponding metric to determine whether the vehicle operator demonstrated appropriate behavior for the event. A vehicle operator score is updated based upon the evaluation and the updated vehicle operator score is communicated.

A computer implemented process is carried out by identifying a metric that characterizes an event associated with the operation of an industrial vehicle. Information about the metric is transmitted to an industrial vehicle. Further, the process includes receiving event data that characterizes a response of the industrial vehicle to the event. The process also includes updating a score for the instance of the metric associated with the vehicle operator by deriving a raw score value based upon the received event data, aggregating the derived raw score value to previously derived raw scores for the metric, and computing a modified score by applying a filter to the aggregate of raw score values. The process also includes comparing the computed modified score with a predetermined modification criteria, and sending a command back to the industrial vehicle to modify the industrial vehicle based upon the comparison.

Dynamic vehicle performance analyzer with smoothing filter

In location-based geo-feature implementations, messages for conveyance on an industrial vehicle are determined based on a current operating state of the industrial vehicle, information about a zone with expected operating conditions, and the industrial vehicle's location. When the industrial vehicle enters the zone, the current operating state of the industrial vehicle is compared to the expected operating state, which determines the message for display. Further, the current operating state may change the way the message is displayed. In vehicle-based implementations, vehicle data is collected and analyzed to generate messages upon the triggering of predetermined events. The detection of an event can be combined with vehicle position data to create an event record that captures location. Tools are also provided for setting up, managing and using the above capabilities.

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.

Dynamic industrial vehicle monitoring for modification of vehicle operator behavior comprises identifying a metric that characterizes an event associated with the operation of an industrial vehicle, the metric having at least one behavior modification action and at least one performance parameter to evaluate the event against. Monitoring operation of the industrial vehicle is carried out for the event. Upon detecting an occurrence of the event, event data is recorded that characterizes a response of a vehicle operator to the event. The recorded event data is evaluated against at least one performance parameter associated with the corresponding metric to determine whether the vehicle operator demonstrated appropriate behavior for the event. A vehicle operator score is updated based upon the evaluation and the updated vehicle operator score is communicated.

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New Bremen, OH, United States of America

Lewis Henry Manci