SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VALIDATION OF PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT ON AERIAL WORK PLATFORMS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- receiving, at a user hub, data identifying a near-field identification tag associated with personal protection equipment;
receiving, at the user hub, an indication that a lift operation is being initiated at an aerial work platform having an operator basket;
operating the user hub to determine whether the near-field identification tag is within range of an antenna mounted on the operator basket; and
permitting the lift operation to proceed only after determining that the near-field identification tag is within range of the antenna.
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for location-based validation of personal protection equipment (PPE) for use with an aerial work platform (AWP). In one such method, an AWP is provided with a user hub. The user hub stores information identifying one or more radio frequency identification (RFID) tags that are affixed to PPE that is required for the use of the AWP. Through a near-field antenna mounted at the operator basket of the AWP, the user hub determines whether the required PPE is within range of the antenna before permitting a lift operation to be performed by the AWP. In some embodiments, the user hub may disable the AWP or initiate an emergency shutdown if the required PPE is not present.
43 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving, at a user hub, data identifying a near-field identification tag associated with personal protection equipment; receiving, at the user hub, an indication that a lift operation is being initiated at an aerial work platform having an operator basket; operating the user hub to determine whether the near-field identification tag is within range of an antenna mounted on the operator basket; and permitting the lift operation to proceed only after determining that the near-field identification tag is within range of the antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus comprising:
a user hub having a processor, a non-transitory computer memory, and a near-field interface including an antenna mounted on an operator basket of an aerial work platform, wherein the computer memory stores instructions that, when executed on the processor, are operative; to store, in the computer memory, data identifying a near-field identification tag associated with personal protection equipment; to receive an indication that a lift operation is being initiated at an aerial work platform having an operator basket; to determine whether the near-field identification tag is within range of the antenna; and to permit the lift operation to proceed only after determining that the near-field identification tag is within range of the antenna. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. An aerial work platform comprising:
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a base, an operator basket, a boom arm mounted between the base and the operator basket, the boom arm being operative to lift the operator basket during a lift operation; lift circuitry operative to control the lift operation of the boom arm; a near-field antenna mounted at the operator basket; a user hub in communication with the lift circuitry, the user hub having a processor and a non-transitory computer memory, wherein the computer memory stores instructions that, when executed on the processor, are operative; to store, in the computer memory, data identifying a near-field identification tag associated with personal protection equipment; to receive an indication that a lift operation is being initiated; to determine whether the near-field identification tag is within range of the antenna; and to permit the lift operation to proceed only after determining that the near-field identification tag is within range of the antenna. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification