Crown Equipment Corporation

Philip W Swift

Lucas B Waltz

Lewis Henry Manci

Sergio Schulte De Oliveira

Steven R Pulskamp

Timothy A Wellman

Adam M Ruppert

Benjamin John Purrenhage

Anthony T Castaneda

Jonathan Ochenas

Jess D Gilland

James V Kraimer

Christian Molnar

Sebastian Theos

David K Tinnerman

Jeffrey C Whitford

Gregory S Breiding

Jonathan C Ochenas

Luying Sun

Gregg E Hillman

Lewis H Manci

Robert J Kelley

Rodrigo Colin

Benjamin J Purrenhage

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 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.

Observation based event tracking

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.

Industrial electronic badge

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 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.

Processing device having a graphical user interface for industrial vehicle

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.

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.

Vehicle-initiated cadenced operator interaction

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.

Dynamic industrial vehicle measure

The overall quality of a workforce is analyzed, scored and presented using an analysis engine that performs a multi-domain analysis on enterprise data. The analysis engine presents key information about the performance of a workforce across a range of hardware devices so as to inform different users in their unique contexts and roles within a business organization as to workforce performance. The analysis engine associates a customizable performance profile with each workforce member. Each performance profile is comprised of a plurality of performance measures. Each performance measure in turn, represents a performance metric that measures some aspect of the job duties performed by the associated workforce member, e.g., an industrial vehicle operator. The scores are aggregated into an overall performance profile score. To compute the scores, data is considered across multiple domains, e.g., by collecting and analyzing data from industrial vehicle data systems, warehouse management systems, labor management systems, etc.

Tracking industrial vehicle operator quality

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 computer-implemented process of tracking events, is carried out by detecting that a first badge is within a personal-area network wireless communication 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.

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. The vehicle controller actively analyzes industrial vehicle data associated with the content of the interaction(s), and evaluates the data 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.

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.

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Oakwood, OH, United States of America

Philip W Swift