Crown Equipment Corporation

Trisha M Luthman

Roger J Quinlan, Jr

Craig J Rekow

Jamison S Frady

Michael P Gallagher

Steven R Pulskamp

Michael Corbett

Vern I Woodruff, Iii

Mike Etienne Ciholas

Justin Bennett

Christopher R Graunke

Chad Lefeld

Ben Morelli

Paul C Duckworth

Kent D Pilcher

James Francis Schloemer

Ryan Michaels Estep

Donald T Meiring

Matthew T Shinew

Jason L Seitz

Sarah Dory

Casey Richardson

Josh Woody

Herb Hollinger

Matthew J Otto

Megan E Wenning

Audrey Hendon

Daniel T MacManus

Ryan Estep

Vern I Woodruff

Michael J Corbett

According to the embodiments described herein, system and methods for determining relative pose of materials handling vehicles in an industrial environment may include utilizing ultra-wideband (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.

Systems and methods for relative pose determination 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 ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna array systems respectively 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.

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.

On-board charging station for a remote control device

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.

Power savings for remote control device

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.

Calculating missed messages expected to be received by a central device from a peripheral device

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.

Method and system for testing a remote control device

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.

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.

A remote control device that is paired with a first vehicle, such that the remote control device wirelessly communicates with the first vehicle, is paired with a second vehicle via a pairing process. The pairing process is initiated by physically contacting a component of the remote control device with an element of the second vehicle. The pairing process also unpairs the remote control device from the first vehicle, such that the remote control device no longer wirelessly communicates with the first vehicle, and the remote control device wirelessly communicates with the second vehicle.

Pairing a remote control device to a vehicle

Tiller knob

Light bar for a lift truck

Fork lift truck

Growing community of inventors

Covington, OH, United States of America

Trisha M Luthman