Crown Equipment Corporation

Lucas B Waltz

Lisa Wong

Philip W Swift

Lewis Henry Manci

Kashyap Chandrasekar

Jacob Jay Thomson

Karl L Dammeyer

Darrin R Ihle

Marc A McClain

Eric D Holbrook

Christopher William Goode

Andrew Evan Graham

Thomas L Mallak

Bing Zheng

Steve Mangette

Marc A Mcclain

Kevin Anthony Gilliland

Mark Bell

William C Jones

Ryan M Snodgrass

Eric P Gasser

Robert J Henshaw

Eric J Hanson

Craig J Rekow

Adam M Ruppert

Jay L Kuck

Jay G Pollack

Steven C Billger

William J Heidemann

Keith G Bornhorst

Kurt A Hilgefort

Robert L Eilerman

Andrew D Smith

Lewis H Manci

Jacob J Thomson

Christopher W Goode

Kevin A Gilliland

Ryan Estep

Jacob Thomson

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

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.

Industrial vehicle fleet recommender

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 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.

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 process for modifying vehicle performance parameters for one or more kinematic functions while executing an assigned task is disclosed. The process comprises receiving, for an industrial vehicle, a job specification and decomposing the job specification into a workflow model, with the workflow model defining the tasks of the industrial vehicle. The process further comprises associating the tasks with a kinematic model. The kinematic model is generated by identifying the kinematic function of the industrial vehicle, receiving constraints associated with an operation of the industrial vehicle, and computing a cutback curve for a parameter of the kinematic function. The kinematic model is applied to the workflow model. The performance parameter of the industrial vehicle is modified based on the applied kinematic model to the workflow model.

Adjusting industrial vehicle performance

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

A method and apparatus for using unique landmarks to position industrial vehicles during start-up. In one embodiment, a method of using pre-positioned objects as landmarks to operate an industrial vehicle is provided. The method comprises identifying a start-up scenario from sensor data, wherein the start-up scenario comprises a unique marker start-up or a pre-positioned object start-up. in response to the identified start-up scenario, either a unique marker or pre-positioned object is identified within a physical environment, wherein the pre-positioned object or unique marker corresponds with a sub-area of the physical environment. The industrial vehicle pose is determined in response to the identity of the pre-positioned object or unique marker and the industrial vehicle is operated based on the determined industrial vehicle pose.

Systems and methods for pose development using retrieved position of a pallet or product load to be picked up

The embodiments described herein relate to systems and methods for showing information from a management server on a mobile client device to facilitate the management of industrial vehicles. Embodiments of the system can include a plurality of industrial vehicles communicatively coupled to the management server, and a mobile client device communicatively coupled to the management server. The mobile client device can include a display, a wireless communication circuit, and one or more client processors. Encoded objects, vehicular objects, or combinations thereof can be shown upon the display of the mobile client device to show information from the management server.

Systems and methods for supervising industrial vehicles via encoded vehicular objects shown on a mobile client device

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.

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.

A computer-executed process and system for evaluating industrial vehicle performance comprises identifying kinematic functions of an industrial vehicle, receiving constraints of an environment in which the industrial vehicle operates, and computing a cutback curve for a parameter of a select kinematic function of the industrial vehicle. A kinematic model of the industrial vehicle is generated based on the kinematic functions, the constraints of the environment, and the cutback curves. A workflow model is defined by defining tasks of the industrial vehicle within the environment, wherein the tasks are based upon the kinematic model. The kinematic model and workflow model is used to simulate a job specification, and the results of the simulation are used to evaluate an industrial vehicle.

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Coldwater, OH, United States of America

Lucas B Waltz