Systems and methods for vehicle simulation

• US 11,087,639 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2017
• Issued: 08/10/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Raymond Corporation (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Raymond Corporation (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Weiss, Joseph, Bentley, Stephen, Goncalves, Fernando, Medwin, Steven, Vanderpool, Josh
• Primary Examiner(s): Blaise, Malina D.
• Application Number:
  US15/476,039
• Publication Number:
  US 20170287357A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,593 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/20 Means for actuating or controlling masts, platforms, or forks power take-off from vehicle transmissions, combined with vehicle propulsion systems B60K
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/20 Design optimisation, verification or simulation optimisation, verification or simulation of circuit designs G06F30/30
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/003 Repetitive work cycles; Sequence of movements
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/167 Control of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/042 providing simulation in a real vehicle G09B9/052, G09B9/058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/052 characterised by provision for recording or measuring trainee's performance devices for psychotechnics, e.g. for vehicle drivers A61B5/16, A61B5/18

Abstract

Systems and methods for material handling vehicle simulation are provided. In one aspect, a material handling vehicle simulation system includes a material handling vehicle having a plurality of controls operable to manipulate the material handling vehicle to perform a desired operation, and a vehicle controller configured to selectively transition between a standard mode where the vehicle controller is configured to instruct the vehicle to perform standard operating tasks and a simulation mode. The material handling simulation system further includes a simulation kit having a simulation display, and a simulation controller in communication with the plurality of controls and the simulation display. When the vehicle controller is in the simulation mode, the simulation controller is configured to simulate operation of the material handling vehicle on the simulation display in response to manipulation of at least one of the plurality of controls.

Claims

1. A material handling vehicle simulation system comprising:

a material handling vehicle including;

a plurality of controls operable to manipulate the material handling vehicle to perform a desired operation; and

a vehicle controller configured to selectively transition between a standard mode where the vehicle controller is configured to instruct the material handling vehicle to perform standard operating tasks and a simulation mode, wherein the vehicle controller is further configured to detect a triggering event to indicate when the vehicle controller is to transition between the standard mode and the simulation mode;

a simulation port having one or more pins; and

a simulation kit including;

a simulation display; and

a simulation controller in communication with the plurality of controls and the simulation display, wherein when the vehicle controller is in the simulation mode, the simulation controller is configured to simulate operation of the material handling vehicle on the simulation display in response to manipulation of at least one of the plurality of controls, and wherein the triggering event comprises connecting the simulation controller to the vehicle controller via the simulation port.

2. The material handling vehicle simulation system of claim 1, wherein the triggering event comprises actuating a switch.

3. The material handling vehicle simulation system of claim 1, wherein the triggering event comprises connecting the simulation controller to the vehicle controller followed by actuating a switch.

4. The material handling vehicle simulation system of claim 1, wherein the simulation kit further comprises a performance capture device in communication with the simulation controller and configured to monitor a position of at least a portion of an operator.

5. The material handling vehicle simulation system of claim 4, wherein the performance capture device is in the form of a camera.

6. The material handling vehicle simulation system of claim 4, wherein the performance capture device is in the form of an infrared sensor.

7. The material handling vehicle simulation system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle controller is configured to communicate output signals from the plurality of controls to the simulation controller.

8. The material handling vehicle simulation system of claim 1, wherein the material handling vehicle includes at least one component configured to provide haptic feedback to an operator, when the vehicle controller is in the simulation mode.

9. The material handling vehicle simulation system of claim 1, wherein the simulation display comprises virtual reality goggles.

10. The material handling vehicle simulation system of claim 1, wherein the simulation controller is configured to alter a camera angle and a simulated position displayed by virtual reality goggles based on a position of an operator, when the vehicle controller is in the simulation mode.

11. The material handling vehicle simulation system of claim 1, wherein the simulation controller is integrated into a simulation kiosk.

12. The material handling vehicle simulation system of claim 11, wherein the simulation kiosk includes a kiosk display configured to reflect the simulation display.

13. The material handling vehicle simulation system of claim 11, wherein the simulation kiosk includes a performance capture device in communication with the simulation controller and configured to monitor a position of at least a portion of an operator.

14. A simulation kit configured to interact with a material handling vehicle having a vehicle controller, a simulation port in communication with the vehicle controller, and a plurality of controls in communication with the vehicle controller, the simulation kit comprising:

a simulation display;

a performance capture device configured to monitor a position of at least a portion of an operator positioned within the material handling vehicle; and

a simulation controller configured to connect to the vehicle controller via the simulation port, wherein when the simulation controller is connected to the simulation port via one or more pins in the simulation port, the simulation controller is configured to generate a simulated environment that is projected onto the simulation display, wherein the simulation controller is configured to adapt the simulated environment in response to manipulation of at least one of the plurality of controls, and wherein the connection between the vehicle controller and the simulation controller via the simulation port is configured to trigger the vehicle controller to transition to from a standard mode to a simulation mode.

15. The simulation kit of claim 14, wherein the performance capture device is in the form of a camera.

16. The simulation kit of claim 14, wherein the performance capture device is in the form of an infrared sensor.

17. The simulation kit of claim 14, wherein the simulation display comprises virtual reality goggles.

18. The simulation kit of claim 17, wherein the simulation controller is configured to alter a camera angle and a simulated position displayed by virtual reality goggles in the simulated environment based on a position of an operator monitored by the performance capture device.

19. The simulation kit of claim 14, wherein the simulation controller is integrated into a simulation kiosk.

20. The simulation kit of claim 19, wherein the simulation kiosk includes a kiosk display configured to reflect the simulation display.

21. The simulation kit of claim 19, wherein the performance capture device is coupled to the simulation kiosk.

22. A method for material handling vehicle simulation using a material handling vehicle, the material handling vehicle including a plurality of controls and a simulation port having one or more pins, wherein the material handling vehicle is operable in a standard mode where the material handling vehicle is configured to perform standard operating tasks and a simulation mode, the method comprising:

connecting a simulation controller to the simulation port, the simulation controller in communication with a simulation display;

upon connecting the simulation controller to the simulation port, triggering the material handling vehicle to transition from the standard mode to the simulation mode; and

simulating operation of the material handling vehicle in a simulated environment on the simulation display in response to an operator manipulating at least one of the plurality of controls.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein triggering the material handling vehicle to transition from the standard mode to the simulation mode comprises:

detecting the connection between the simulation controller and the simulation port on the material handling vehicle.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

providing a message from the simulation controller to a vehicle controller requesting confirmation that the material handling vehicle is to be placed into the simulation mode.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

indicating, in response to the provided message, that the material handling vehicle is to transition into the simulation mode; and

upon indicating that the material handling vehicle is to transition to the simulation mode, transitioning the material handling vehicle from the standard mode to the simulation mode.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

communicating information relating to a type and operational capabilities of the material handling vehicle from the vehicle controller to the simulation controller.