SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF REMOTELY CONTROLLING A MATERIALS HANDLING VEHICLE

• US 20110118903A1
• Filed: 01/21/2011
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
• Inventors: Manci, Lewis H., Green, Matthew M., Pollack, Jay G., Kraimer, James V., Schumacher, Mark E., Siefring, Vernon W., Wellman, Timothy A., Castaneda, Anthony T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,970,363 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07568 Steering arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07581 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0016 characterised by the operator's input device input arrangements for computing systems in general G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0033 by having the operator tracking the vehicle either by direct line of sight or via one or more cameras located remotely from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0238 using obstacle or wall sensors G05D1/0246 and G05D1/0289 take precedence; lidar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S17/93
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/024 in combination with a laser lasers per se H01S
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0255 using acoustic signals, e.g. ultra-sonic singals sonar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S15/93
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0261 using magnetic plots
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0272 comprising means for registering the travel distance, e.g. revolutions of wheels measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles, e.g. using odometers G01C22/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/02 Controlling members for hand actuation by linear movement, e.g. push buttons
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 : Binding and programming of remote control devices

Abstract

A supplemental control system for a materials handling vehicle comprises a wearable control device, and a corresponding receiver on the materials handling vehicle. The wearable control device is donned by an operator interacting with the materials handling vehicle, and comprises a wireless transmitter to be worn on the wrist of the operator and a travel control communicably coupled to the wireless transmitter. Actuation of the travel control causes the wireless transmitter to transmit a first type signal designating a request to the vehicle. The receiver is supported by the vehicle for receiving transmissions from the wireless transmitter.

Claims

1. A remote control device capable of wirelessly transmitting a travel request signal to a materials handling vehicle comprising:

a support structure adapted to be mounted on a wrist or arm of an operator;

a wireless transmitter associated with said support structure; and

control structure in communication with said wireless transmitter, said control structure adapted to be actuated by the operator so as to cause said wireless transmitter to generate a first type signal to the materials handling vehicle.

2. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein said control structure comprises a rigid mounting structure adapted to be mounted over at least one finger of the operator.

3. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein said support structure comprises a mounting strap adapted to be secured to the wrist or arm of the operator.

4. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein said wireless transmitter is releasably coupled to said control structure.

5. The remote control device of claim 4, further comprising a wire extending between said wireless transmitter and said control structure, said flexible wire providing electrical communication between said control structure and said wireless transmitter.

6. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein said wireless transmitter is in wireless communication with said control structure.

7. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein said first type signal comprises a travel request signal.

8. The remote control device of claim 7, wherein said control structure is adapted to be actuated by the operator so as to cause said wireless transmitter to generate a second type signal comprising a stop signal in response to receipt of said second type signal so as to stop the materials handling vehicle if the vehicle is moving under wireless remote control.

9. The remote control device of claim 8, wherein said control structure must be double clicked by the operator to cause said wireless transmitter to generate said first type signal and said control structure must be single clicked by the operator to cause said wireless transmitter to generate said second type signal.

10. The remote control device of claim 7, wherein said control structure must be double clicked by the operator to cause said wireless transmitter to generate said first type signal.

11. The remote control device of claim 7, wherein multiple instances of said first type signal are required for the materials handling vehicle to implement the travel request signal.

12. The remote control device of claim 7, wherein, if no vehicle-related activity has taken place for a predetermined amount of time, said control structure must be double clicked by the operator to cause the materials handling vehicle to implement the travel request signal.

13. The remote control device of claim 7, wherein, for the first wireless command requested after the operator has stepped off the materials vehicle, said control structure must be double clicked by the operator to cause the materials handling vehicle to implement the travel request signal.

14. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein:

a single actuation of said control structure by the operator causes a single instance of said first type signal to be transmitted by said wireless transmitter to the materials handling vehicle;

a double actuation of said control structure by the operator causes a double instance of said first type signal to be transmitted by said wireless transmitter to the materials handling vehicle;

the materials handling vehicle implements a stop function if a single instance of said first type signal is received; and

the materials handling vehicle implements a travel function if a double instance of said first type signal is received.

15. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein:

a single actuation of said control structure by the operator causes a single instance of said first type signal to be transmitted by said wireless transmitter to the materials handling vehicle;

a double actuation of said control structure by the operator causes a double instance of said first type signal to be transmitted by said wireless transmitter to the materials handling vehicle;

the materials handling vehicle implements a stop function if a single instance of said first type signal is received and the materials handling vehicle is moving under wireless remote control;

the materials handling vehicle implements a stop function if a double instance of said first type signal is received and the materials handling vehicle is moving under wireless remote control;

the materials handling vehicle implements a travel function if a double instance of said first type signal is received and the materials handling vehicle is stopped; and

the materials handling vehicle does not implement a travel function if a single instance of said first type signal is received and the materials handling vehicle is stopped.

16. The remote control device of claim 1, further comprising a power pack for powering the remote control device.

17. A materials handling vehicle comprising:

a power unit;

a load handling assembly;

at least one first obstacle detector mounted at a first location on said power unit to detect an object located along a path of travel of said power unit beyond a non-detect zone of said first detector; and

at least one second obstacle detector mounted at a second location on said power unit, spaced from said power unit first location in a vertical direction, and capable of detecting an object in said non-detect zone of said first obstacle detector.

18. The materials handling vehicle of claim 17, wherein said at least one first obstacle detector comprises a sweeping laser sensor.

19. The materials handling vehicle of claim 18, wherein said sweeping laser sensor is capable of detecting an object in any of first, second, and third zones, the first and third zones comprising steer bumper zones used for implementing steer correction maneuvers and the second zone comprising a stop zone used for stopping the vehicle.

20. The materials handling vehicle of claim 17, wherein said at least one second obstacle detector comprises first and second point laser sensors spaced from one another in a horizontal direction.