Systems and methods for creating routes for powered industrial vehicles

• US 7,634,332 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Williams, David E., McElroy, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PIPALA, EDWARD J
• Application Number:
  US11/417,009
• Publication Number:
  US 20070198175A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/23, 701 24- 26, 701/35, 701/36, 701/201, 701/202, 701207-210, 701/216, 701220-221, 701300-302, 340/506, 340988-994, 340/995.16, 340/995.18, 340/995.19, 34099523-99524, 340/995.27, 705/1, 705 7- 9, 705/18, 307/9.1, 307 101- 106
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08355 Routing methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/02 Agriculture; Fishing; Forestry; Mining
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/04 Manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/08 Construction
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/202 Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/30 Computing systems specially adapted for manufacturing

Abstract

Systems and methods for creating route for powered industrial vehicles are provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a route generation module configured to determine route data based on facility layout data and historical usage data. The system also includes a PIV equipped with various sensors and a user interface module configured to allow selective access to the operative components of the PIV.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of creating and managing routes for transporting cargo by powered industrial vehicles (PIVs) in a facility, the PIVs being equipped with one or more of an odometric sensor, a weight sensor, and a storage device for storing data measured by the sensors;

the PIVs being further equipped with an interface module configured to selectively permit access to the operating capabilities of each PIV, the method comprising;

receiving space layout data associated with the facility;

receiving historical usage data for the PIVs, the historical usage data including data measured by the sensors;

defining a customized route comprising direction of travel for the PIV in the facility, the customized route being based at least in part on the received space layout data, and the received historical usage data;

communicating the route data to the PIV;

assigning at least one PIV to run the route;

assigning an operator to operate the PIV; and

subsequent to defining the customized route, modifying the route to reflect changes in at least one of current conditions of the PIV and current conditions in the facility.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the data measured by the sensors and stored in the storage device includes a distance traveled by each PIV while carrying cargo and a distance traveled by each PIV while not carrying cargo.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the stored measured sensor data is transmitted from the storage device to a central server through a wireless transponding device of the PIV.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the interface module includes a security module that provides selective access to the PIV by requiring an operator of the PIV to login to the security module.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein assigning the operator for the PIV is based on certification data including a certification status for operators of the PIV.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the route includes a start time and a finish time, the start time indicating when each assigned PIV begins running the route, and the finish time indicating when each assigned PIV finishes running the route.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising receiving operator data, the operator data including shift schedules for operators of the PIVs.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the operator data further includes certification data.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein assigning an operator for the PIV running the route further comprises:

selecting, based on the shift schedules and the certification data, operators available for assignment; and

selecting, from the operators available for assignment, an operator for the at least one PIV.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the certification data includes an indication of whether the operator has received OSHA-mandated training for operating the PIV.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the storage device stores data about login events by operators of the PIV.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the transponding device is substantially regularly polled by one or more gateway beacons in the facility.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the one or more gateway beacons are in communication with a central server through a dedicated fiber optic network.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein defining the route based on the historical usage data further comprises:

determining, based on the measured sensor data, a previous utilization rate of the PIVs, the utilization rate comprising a ratio of distanced traveled while carrying a load to a distanced traveled while carrying no load; and

defining the routes so as to improve the utilization rate of the PIVs as they run the route.

15. A system for creating and managing routes for powered industrial vehicles (PIVs) in a facility comprising:

one or more PIVs, the PIVs being equipped with one or more of an odometric sensor, a weight sensor, a storage device for storing data measured by the sensors, and an interface module configured to selectively permit access to the operating capabilities of each PIV; and

a route creation module configured to;

receive space layout data associated with the facility;

receive historical usage data for the PIVs, the historical usage data comprising data measured by the sensors;

define a customized route comprising direction of travel for the PIV in the facility, the customized route being based at least in part on the received space layout data and the received historical usage data;

communicate the route data to the PIV;

assign at least one PIV to run the route;

assign an operator to operate the PIV as it runs the route; and

subsequent to defining the customized route, modify the route to reflect changes in at least one of current conditions in the PIV and current conditions in the facility.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the data measured by the sensors and stored in the storage device includes a distance traveled while carrying cargo and a distance traveled while not carrying cargo.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the stored measured sensor data is transmitted from the storage device to the route creation module through a wireless transponding device of the PIV.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the interface module includes a security module that provides selective access to the PIV by requiring an operator of the PIV to login to the security module.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein assigning the operator for each of the PIVs is based on the certification data including a certification status for operators of the PIV.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the route includes a start time and a finish time, the start time indicating when the assigned PIV begins running the route, and the finish time indicating when each assigned PIV finishes running the route.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising receiving operator data, the operator data including shift schedules for operators of the PIVs.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the operator data further includes certification data.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein assigning an operator for the PIV running the route further comprises:

selecting, based on the shift schedules and the certification data, operators available for assignment; and

selecting, from the operators available for assignment, an operator for the at least one PIV.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the certification data includes an indication of whether the operator has received OSHA-mandated training for operating the PIV.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the storage device stores data about login events by operators of the PIV.

26. The system of claim 17, wherein the route creation module is a central server.

27. The system of claim 17, wherein the transponding device is substantially regularly polled by one or more gateway beacons in the facility.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the one or more gateway beacons are in communication with the central server through a dedicated fiber optic network.

29. The system of claim 16, wherein defining the route based on the historical usage data further comprises:

determining, based on the measured sensor data, a previous utilization rate of the PIVs, the utilization rate comprising a ratio of distanced traveled while carrying a load to a distanced traveled while carrying no load; and

defining the routes so as to improve the utilization rate of the PIVs.

30. A system for creating and managing routes for powered industrial vehicles (PIVs) in a facility comprising:

one or more PIVs, the PIVs being equipped with one or more of means for sensing odometric data, means for sensing weight data, means for storing the weight data and odometric data, and means for selectively permitting access to the operating capabilities of each PIV;

means for creating a customized route comprising direction of travel of the PIV in the facility, the customized route being based at least in part on space layout data associated with the facility and historical usage data for the PIVs, the historical usage data comprising data measured by the means for sensing weight data and the means for sensing odometric data;

means for communicating the data to the PIV;

means for assigning at least one PIV to run the route;

means for assigning an operator to operate the PIV; and

subsequent to defining the customized route, modify the route to reflect changes in at least one of current conditions in the PIV and current conditions in the facility.