Industrial vehicle geo-feature system

• US 10,086,756 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2016
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
• Inventors: Manci, Lewis H., Swift, Philip W., Waltz, Lucas B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US15/162,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20160347248A1
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 17/003 for fork-lift trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/24 Electrical devices or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. In an industrial vehicle environment, a machine-executable process, comprising:

receiving geo-feature information about a predefined geo-feature that is located in an area upon which an industrial vehicle travels;

monitoring location information identifying a current location of the industrial vehicle; and

collecting operation information about a current operating state of the industrial vehicle;

wherein, upon detecting that the industrial vehicle encounters the geo-feature, the process further comprising;

determining whether the predefined geo-feature is a message zone or an action zone;

storing, periodically, the operational information and the location information at least during the encounter with the geo-feature;

generating an output message based on the geo-feature information, the location information, and the operating information by;

determining an expected operating state of the industrial vehicle from the geo-feature information, wherein the expected operating state includes an acceptable range;

comparing the current operating state of the industrial vehicle to the expected operating state; and

generating at least one of a first message as the output message where the comparison indicates that the current operating state is within the acceptable range of the expected operating state, and a second message as the output message, different than the first message, where the current operating state is outside the acceptable range of the expected operating state; and

conveying, by a processor on the industrial vehicle, the output message on the industrial vehicle, wherein conveying the output message further includes conveying the message on the industrial vehicle where the industrial vehicle is within the message zone.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein determining an expected operating state further includes identifying an acceptable range for the expected operating state selected from the group consisting of speed of the industrial vehicle, a height of forks of the industrial vehicle, a time that the industrial vehicle remains in the predefined geo-feature, and an orientation of the industrial vehicle.

3. The process of claim 1 further comprising selecting an output device for conveying the message based on at least one of:

the operating information, a speed of the industrial vehicle, and an orientation of the industrial vehicle.

4. The process of claim 1 further comprising:

configuring at least two types of output messages including a first type of message as text on a screen of the industrial vehicle, and a second type of message on a screen of the industrial vehicle without using text;

wherein conveying the output message further comprises;

selecting whether to display the first type of message or the second type of message; and

displaying the selected type of message.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein the industrial vehicle comprises a first light visible to an interior of the industrial vehicle and a second light visible to an exterior of the industrial vehicle, the process further comprising:

activating at least one of the first light and the second light of the industrial vehicle upon outputting the message.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein receiving geo-feature information about a predefined geo-feature includes collecting information about at least one of:

a predefined fixed geo-feature;

a predefined mobile geo-feature surrounding the industrial vehicle; and

a predefined mobile geo-feature identified as a geo-feature around another industrial vehicle.

7. The process of claim 1, wherein receiving geo-feature information about a predefined geo-feature further comprises dynamically generating the geo-feature in response to a detected impact involving the industrial vehicle.

8. The process of claim 1, wherein:

receiving geo-feature information about a predefined geo-feature further comprises receiving by the processor of the industrial vehicle, via a wireless transceiver mounted on an industrial vehicle, the geo-feature information about the defined geo-feature;

monitoring location information identifying a current location of an industrial vehicle comprises monitoring, by the processor on the industrial vehicle, the location information;

collecting operation information about a current operating state of the industrial vehicle comprises collecting the operational information by the processor on the industrial vehicle; and

outputting the message further comprises displaying the message on a display on the industrial vehicle.

9. A hardware computing device configured to execute computer code to generate a graphical user interface for interacting with industrial vehicles, comprising:

a processor coupled to memory, where the processor executes program code stored in the memory for;

presenting on the graphical user interface, a model depicting a graphical representation of a virtual environment that corresponds to a physical environment, where the physical environment is contained within a bounded region;

providing a tool with the graphical user interface that enables a user to define a geo-feature at a location on the model, the geo-feature corresponding to an element within the virtual environment that transforms into an industrial vehicle control in the corresponding physical environment such that an event triggers a corresponding action on an industrial vehicle within the corresponding physical environment when the industrial vehicle encounters the geo-feature, the tool further enabling the user to draw a geo-zone on the model, where a geo-zone is an area on the model that corresponds to a desired geo-feature;

opening a dialog box within the graphical user interface that enables the user to enter a parameter that defines at least one of a function, characteristic, or action of the defined geo-feature; and

uploading the defined geo-feature into the industrial vehicle such that operation of the industrial vehicle within the corresponding physical environment triggers the event and corresponding action when the industrial vehicle encounters a physical location associated with the geo-feature.

10. The hardware computing device of claim 9, wherein:

providing a tool that enables the user to draw a geo-zone on the model comprises;

drawing at least one of;

an action zone that defines a zone where the industrial vehicle is expected to perform a predetermined action; and

a prompt zone that defines a zone where the industrial vehicle is to provide a message.

11. The hardware computing device of claim 10, wherein:

drawing an action zone comprises drawing at least one of;

a restriction zone that defines a zone that the industrial vehicle is to stay out of;

a speed zone that defines a zone where the industrial vehicle is to maintain a predetermined maximum speed;

a control zone that defines a zone where an automation feature takes control of the industrial vehicle;

a height restrict zone that defines a zone where the industrial vehicle is to maintain forks below a predetermined maximum height;

a stop zone that defines a zone where the industrial vehicle is to stop; and

a horn zone that defines a zone where the industrial vehicle is to sound a horn.

12. The hardware computing device of claim 10, wherein:

drawing at least one of;

an action zone and a prompt zone comprises;

enabling the user to draw a prompt zone adjacent to an action zone wherein the prompt zone provides a message indicating the desired industrial vehicle action when the industrial vehicle encounters the adjacent action zone.

13. The hardware computing device of claim 9 further comprising:

receiving event data indicative of a select industrial vehicle encountering a geo-feature;

providing the model on the graphical user interface;

depicting a vehicle icon as a graphical representation of the select industrial vehicle superimposed on the model; and

animating the industrial vehicle icon so as to replay the event associated with the industrial vehicle encountering the geo-feature based upon event data collected from a real, physical encounter of the corresponding industrial vehicle with the geo-feature.

14. The hardware computing device of claim 13 further comprising:

providing a dialog box that presents industrial vehicle operational data recorded during the encounter with the geo-feature.

15. The hardware computing device of claim 13 further comprising:

providing the animation so as to replay events recorded both before and after the select industrial vehicle encountered the geo-feature.

16. The hardware computing device of claim 13 further comprising:

aggregating a plurality of industrial vehicle encounters with a select geo-feature so as to display on the graphical user interface, an aggregation of data with regard to multiple industrial vehicle encounters with geo-features.

17. A hardware computing device configured to execute computer code to generate a graphical user interface for interacting with industrial vehicles, comprising:

a processor coupled to memory, where the processor executes program code stored in the memory for;

presenting on the graphical user interface, a model depicting a graphical representation of a virtual environment that corresponds to a physical environment, where the physical environment is contained within a bounded region;

providing a tool with the graphical user interface that enables a user to define a geo-feature at a location on the model, the geo-feature corresponding to an element within the virtual environment that transforms into an industrial vehicle control in the corresponding physical environment such that an event triggers a corresponding action on an industrial vehicle within the corresponding physical environment when the industrial vehicle encounters the geo-feature;

opening a dialog box within the graphical user interface that enables the user to enter a parameter that defines at least one of a function, characteristic, or action of the defined geo-feature by building a condition for the geo-feature that is contingent upon at least one of a state of a process running in a domain associated with a task being performed by an operator of the industrial vehicle and a state of operation of the industrial vehicle; and

uploading the defined geo-feature into the industrial vehicle such that operation of the industrial vehicle within the corresponding physical environment triggers the event and corresponding action when the industrial vehicle encounters a physical location associated with the geo-feature.

18. In an industrial vehicle, a machine-executable process, comprising:

identifying, by a processor on the industrial vehicle, an event that is related to an operation that is being carried out on the industrial vehicle, comprising at least one of;

detecting an impact associated with the industrial vehicle;

detecting erratic steering with raised forks;

detecting fast steering with raised forks;

detecting cornering high speed with raised forks;

detecting braking suddenly with an elevated load;

detecting that a load capacity is over a predetermined capacity load limit;

detecting exceeding a predetermined height extended travel while in free lift;

detecting that the forks are extended and that the industrial vehicle is traveling with the forks elevated;

detecting that a reach is extended and that the industrial vehicle is traveling with the reach extended;

detecting that the industrial vehicle is operating with an undersized battery;

detecting that the industrial vehicle is operating with an underweight battery;

detecting early or late battery charges;

detecting improper battery care, including water schedule and proper cycling;

detecting a battery equalization schedule;

detecting an efficiency driving style profile;

detecting an excess of energy usage based upon a detected driving profile;

detecting the usage of a specific type of fuel usage;

detecting fuel/battery run-out-events;

detecting excessive travel of the industrial vehicle outside typical distance;

detecting that lift usage cycles of the industrial vehicle are outside a range of typical cycles;

detecting that the industrial vehicle is traveling on a ramp in an improper direction;

detecting the presence of an idle operator on a stationary industrial vehicle where the operator is logged into the industrial vehicle;

detecting that an operator exited the industrial vehicle while the industrial vehicle is still moving; and

detecting an operator is logged into an industrial vehicle but is not present on the industrial vehicle;

collecting operation information about a current operating state of the industrial vehicle; and

performing upon detecting that the event has occurred based upon the collected operational information, actions comprising;

detecting the location of the industrial vehicle at the time of the occurrence of the event;

generating an event record encapsulating the collected operational information from a time before the detected event until a time after the detected event, the event record including at least one of captured information indicative of direction, heading, and speed of travel of the industrial vehicle;

integrating information indicating the detected location of the industrial vehicle into the event record;

wirelessly transmitting the event record to a server computer;

generating an output message based on the detected event; and

conveying the output message on the industrial vehicle.

19. The process of claim 18, wherein:

detecting the location of the industrial vehicle at the time of the occurrence of the event is carried out by continuously monitoring location information identifying a current location of an industrial vehicle; and

integrating the detected location information into the event record comprising integrating location information into the event record so as to capture the location of the industrial vehicle before the detected event, during the detected event, and after the detected event.