Systems and methods of remotely controlling a materials handling vehicle
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
G05D-001/00
G08C-017/02
B66F-009/075
G07C-009/00
G05D-001/02
출원번호
US-0855310
(2007-09-14)
등록번호
US-9082293
(2015-07-14)
발명자
/ 주소
Wellman, Timothy A.
Kraimer, James V.
Pollack, Jay G.
출원인 / 주소
Crown Equipment Corporation
대리인 / 주소
Stevens & Showalter LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
6인용 특허 :
36
초록▼
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 transmitt
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 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 advance the vehicle in a first direction. The receiver is supported by the vehicle for receiving transmissions from the wireless transmitter. A traction control of the vehicle is responsive to a receipt of the first type signal by the receiver to cause the vehicle to advance.
대표청구항▼
1. A supplemental remote control system in combination with a materials handling vehicle comprising: said materials handling vehicle comprising a power unit including at least one wheel and a load handling assembly including a pair of forks; andsaid supplemental remote control system comprising: a w
1. A supplemental remote control system in combination with a materials handling vehicle comprising: said materials handling vehicle comprising a power unit including at least one wheel and a load handling assembly including a pair of forks; andsaid supplemental remote control system comprising: a wearable wireless remote control device that is donned by an operator interacting with said materials handling vehicle, said wearable wireless remote control device comprising: a wireless transmitter; anda travel control communicably coupled to said wireless transmitter, wherein actuation of said travel control causes said wireless transmitter to wirelessly transmit a travel request as a first type signal requesting said vehicle to advance in a first direction;a receiver associated with said vehicle for receiving transmissions from said wireless transmitter at said vehicle; anda controller associated with said vehicle that is communicably coupled to said receiver and to a traction control system of said vehicle, said controller being responsive to receipt of said first type signal by said receiver, wherein said controller is responsive to receipt of said first type signal by said receiver to evaluate at least one vehicle condition, to decide whether to implement said travel request based upon the evaluation of said at least one vehicle condition and to cause said traction control system to advance said vehicle if said controller decides to implement said travel request based upon the evaluation of said at least one vehicle condition. 2. The supplemental remote control system according to claim 1, wherein said wearable wireless remote control device further comprises: a glove garment having a button on a finger thereof and a circuit that connects said button to a docking area on said garment; wherein:actuation of said button implements said travel control; andsaid wireless transmitter is provided on a detachably mountable communications device that temporarily docks to said docking area of said garment to couple said wireless transmitter to said button. 3. The supplemental remote control system according to claim 2, wherein an antenna is provided integral with said glove garment so as to connect to said wireless transmitter when said detachably mountable communications device is temporarily docked to said docking area of said glove garment. 4. The supplemental remote control system according to claim 1, wherein: said controller communicates with said traction system of said vehicle to determine whether said vehicle is moving, movement of said vehicle corresponding to said at least one condition; andsaid controller is configured to decide to not implement said travel request if said at least one condition indicates that said vehicle is moving. 5. The supplemental remote control system according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one sensor communicably coupled to said controller, each said at least one sensor configured to detect the presence of an object located at a position either on a platform of said vehicle from which said vehicle may be operated or proximate to said vehicle:wherein: said at least one vehicle condition evaluated by said controller comprises a status of each sensor and said controller is configured to decide to not implement said travel request if said status from at least one sensor is indicative of the presence of an object. 6. The supplemental remote control system according to claim 1, wherein: said controller communicates with a steer control system of said vehicle to determine whether said vehicle has a steer angle within predetermined limits, said steer angle of said vehicle corresponding to said at least one condition; andsaid controller is configured to either not implement said travel request or to first communicate with said steer control system to correct said steer angle to within said predetermined limits if said at least one condition indicates that said steer angle exceeds said predetermined limits. 7. The supplemental remote control system according to claim 1, wherein said controller communicates with said traction control system to cause said vehicle to coast to a stop upon detecting a predetermined stopping event associated with movement of said vehicle under wireless remote control in response to receipt of said first type signal. 8. The supplemental remote control system according to claim 7, wherein said predetermined stopping event comprises said vehicle exceeding at least one of a predetermined maximum distance continuously traveled without stopping or a predetermined maximum time continuously traveled without stopping under wireless remote control in response to receipt of said first type signal. 9. The supplemental remote control system according to claim 1, wherein said controller communicates with a brake control system associated with said vehicle to apply a brake to stop said vehicle upon detecting a predetermined event associated with movement of said vehicle under wireless remote control in response to receipt of said first type signal by said receiver. 10. The supplemental remote control system according to claim 9, wherein said predetermined stopping event comprises said vehicle exceeding at least one of a predetermined maximum distance continuously traveled without stopping or a predetermined maximum time continuously traveled without stopping under wireless remote control in response to receipt of said first type signal. 11. The supplemental remote control system according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one sensor communicably coupled to said controller, each said at least one sensor configured to detect the presence of an object located proximate to said vehicle:wherein said controller communicates with a brake control system associated with said vehicle to brake said vehicle to a stop if said vehicle is moving under wireless remote control in response to receipt of said first type signal and at least one sensor indicates the detection of an object in the travel path of said vehicle. 12. The supplemental remote control system according to claim 1, wherein said wearable wireless remote control device further comprises a disable control, wherein actuation of said disable control causes said wireless transmitter to transmit a second type signal requesting said vehicle to stop; wherein said controller causes said vehicle to stop responsive to receipt of said second type signal and to disable power to said vehicle if said vehicle is moving under wireless remote control in response to receipt of said first type signal. 13. The supplemental remote control system according to claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to disregard commands from said wearable wireless remote control device if said wearable wireless remote control device exceeds a predetermined range greater than 25 feet (7.62 meters). 14. The supplemental remote control system according to claim 1, further comprising requiring an operator identification code entered into said controller prior to said vehicle responding to said first type signal. 15. A method of operating a supplemental remote control system for a materials handling vehicle comprising: providing a materials handling vehicle comprising a power unit including at least one wheel and a load handling assembly including a pair of forks;providing a wearable wireless remote control device that is donned by an operator interacting with said materials handling vehicle, said wearable wireless remote control device having a wireless transmitter and a travel control communicably coupled to said wireless transmitter, wherein actuation of said travel control causes said wireless transmitter to wirelessly transmit a travel request as a first type signal requesting said vehicle to advance in a first direction;providing a receiver associated with said vehicle for receiving transmissions from said wireless transmitter at said vehicle; andproviding a controller associated with said vehicle that is communicably coupled to said receiver and to a traction control system of said vehicle, said controller being responsive to receipt of said first type signal by said receiver, wherein said controller: evaluates at least one vehicle condition;decides whether to implement said travel request based upon the evaluation of said at least one vehicle condition; and causes said traction control system to advance said vehicle if said controller decides to implement said travel request based upon the evaluation of said at least one vehicle condition. 16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising configuring said vehicle for traveling power unit first in response to said travel request if said controller decides to implement said travel request. 17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising limiting the speed of travel of said vehicle to a predetermined maximum speed if said vehicle is moving under wireless remote control in response to receipt of said first type signal. 18. The method according to claim 15, wherein said controller is configured to cause said traction control system to advance said vehicle for as long as maintained actuation of said travel control on said wearable wireless remote control device is detected, unless said vehicle exceeds predetermined maximum distance or time traveled in response to said first type signal, despite a continued detection of continued actuation of said travel control. 19. The method according to claim 15, wherein said providing a wearable remote control device further comprises: providing a glove garment having a button on a finger thereof and a circuit that connects said button to a docking area on said garment;wherein actuation of said button implements said travel control; andproviding said wireless transmitter on a detachably mountable communications device that temporarily docks to said docking area of said garment to couple said wireless transmitter to said button. 20. A supplemental remote control system in combination with a materials handling vehicle comprising: said materials handling vehicle comprising a power unit including at least one wheel and a load handling assembly including a pair of forks; andsaid supplemental remote control system comprising: a wearable wireless remote control device that is donned by an operator interacting with said materials handling vehicle, said wearable wireless remote control device comprising: a wireless transmitter; anda travel control communicably coupled to said wireless transmitter, wherein actuation of said travel control causes said wireless transmitter to wirelessly transmit a travel request as a first type signal requesting said vehicle to advance in a first direction;a receiver associated with said vehicle for receiving transmissions from said wireless transmitter at said vehicle;a controller associated with said vehicle that is communicably coupled to said receiver and to a traction control system of said vehicle, said controller being responsive to receipt of said first type signal by said receiver;at least one sensor communicably coupled to said controller, each said at least one sensor configured to detect the presence of an object located proximate to said vehicle; andwherein said controller communicates with a brake control system associated with said vehicle to brake said vehicle to a stop if said vehicle is moving under wireless remote control in response to receipt of said first type signal and at least one sensor indicates the detection of an object in the travel path of said vehicle. 21. The supplemental remote control system according to claim 20, wherein said wearable wireless remote control device further comprises: a glove garment having a button on a finger thereof and a circuit that connects said button to a docking area on said garment; wherein:actuation of said button implements said travel control; andsaid wireless transmitter is provided on a detachably mountable communications device that temporarily docks to said docking area of said garment to couple said wireless transmitter to said button. 22. The supplemental remote control system according to claim 21, wherein an antenna is provided integral with said glove garment so as to connect to said wireless transmitter when said detachably mountable communications device is temporarily docked to said docking area of said glove garment. 23. The supplemental remote control system according to claim 20, wherein: said controller communicates with said traction system of said vehicle to determine whether said vehicle is moving; andsaid controller is configured to decide to not implement said travel request if said vehicle is moving. 24. The supplemental remote control system according to claim 20, further comprising: at least one sensor communicably coupled to said controller, each said at least one sensor configured to detect the presence of an object located at a position either on a platform of said vehicle from which said vehicle may be operated or proximate to said vehicle:wherein: said controller is configured to decide to not implement said travel request if a status from at least one sensor is indicative of the presence of an object. 25. The supplemental remote control system according to claim 20, wherein: said controller communicates with a steer control system of said vehicle to determine whether said vehicle has a steer angle within predetermined limits; andsaid controller is configured to either not implement said travel request or to first communicate with said steer control system to correct said steer angle to within said predetermined limits if said steer angle exceeds said predetermined limits. 26. The supplemental remote control system according to claim 20, wherein said controller communicates with said traction control system to cause said vehicle to coast to a stop upon detecting a predetermined stopping event associated with movement of said vehicle under wireless remote control in response to receipt of said first type signal. 27. The supplemental remote control system according to claim 26, wherein said predetermined stopping event comprises said vehicle exceeding at least one of a predetermined maximum distance continuously traveled without stopping or a predetermined maximum time continuously traveled without stopping under wireless remote control in response to receipt of said first type signal. 28. The supplemental remote control system according to claim 20, wherein said controller communicates with said brake control system associated with said vehicle to apply said brake to stop said vehicle upon detecting a predetermined event associated with movement of said vehicle under wireless remote control in response to receipt of said first type signal by said receiver. 29. The supplemental remote control system according to claim 28, wherein said predetermined stopping event comprises said vehicle exceeding at least one of a predetermined maximum distance continuously traveled without stopping or a predetermined maximum time continuously traveled without stopping under wireless remote control in response to receipt of said first type signal. 30. The supplemental remote control system according to claim 20, wherein: said wearable wireless remote control device further comprises a disable control;actuation of said disable control causes said wireless transmitter to transmit a second type signal requesting said vehicle to stop; andsaid controller causes said vehicle to stop responsive to receipt of said second type signal and to disable power to said vehicle if said vehicle is moving under wireless remote control in response to receipt of said first type signal. 31. The supplemental remote control system according to claim 20, wherein said controller is configured to disregard commands from said wearable wireless remote control device if said wearable wireless remote control device exceeds a predetermined range greater than 25 feet (7.62meters). 32. The supplemental remote control system according to claim 20, further comprising requiring an operator identification code entered into said controller prior to said vehicle responding to said first type signal. 33. A method of operating a supplemental remote control system for a materials handling vehicle comprising: providing a materials handling vehicle comprising a power unit including at least one wheel and a load handling assembly including a pair of forks;providing a wearable wireless remote control device that is donned by an operator interacting with said materials handling vehicle, said wearable wireless remote control device having a wireless transmitter and a travel control communicably coupled to said wireless transmitter, wherein actuation of said travel control causes said wireless transmitter to wirelessly transmit a travel request as a first type signal requesting said vehicle to advance in a first direction;providing a receiver associated with said vehicle for receiving transmissions from said wireless transmitter at said vehicle;providing a controller associated with said vehicle that is communicably coupled to said receiver and to a traction control system of said vehicle, said controller being responsive to receipt of said first type signal by said receiver;providing at least one sensor communicably coupled to said controller, each said at least one sensor configured to detect the presence of an object located proximate to said vehicle; andwherein said controller communicates with a brake control system associated with said vehicle to brake said vehicle to a stop if said vehicle is moving under wireless remote control in response to receipt of said first type signal and at least one sensor indicates the detection of an object in the travel path of said vehicle. 34. The method according to claim 33, further comprising configuring said vehicle for traveling power unit first in response to said travel request if said controller decides to implement said travel request. 35. The method according to claim 33, further comprising limiting the speed of travel of said vehicle to a predetermined maximum speed if said vehicle is moving under wireless remote control in response to receipt of said first type signal. 36. The method according to claim 33, wherein said controller is configured to cause said traction control system to advance said vehicle for as long as maintained actuation of said travel control on said wearable wireless remote control device is detected, unless said vehicle exceeds predetermined maximum distance or time traveled in response to said first type signal, despite a continued detection of continued actuation of said travel control. 37. The method according to claim 33, wherein said providing a wearable remote control device further comprises: providing a glove garment having a button on a finger thereof and a circuit that connects said button to a docking area on said garment;wherein actuation of said button implements said travel control; andproviding said wireless transmitter on a detachably mountable communications device that temporarily docks to said docking area of said garment to couple said wireless transmitter to said button.
연구과제 타임라인
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (36)
Allred ; James K. ; Liddell ; Arlyn G. ; Quinn ; Edward B. ; Black ; Fra ncis B., Automated materials storage system and method.
Papanikolopoulos, Nikolaos P.; Krantz, Donald G.; Voyles, Richard M.; Bushey, John A.; Johnson, Alan N.; Nelson, Bradley J.; Rybski, Paul E.; Griggs, Kathleen A.; Urban, II, Ellison C., Miniature robotic vehicles and methods of controlling same.
Hatton John H. (5275 Craner Ave. North Hollywood CA 91601) Batt Gregory L. (#2 8741 Montcalm Street Vancouver ; British Columbia CAX V6 4R1), Multi-axis articulated all terrain vehicle.
Miller Phillip ; Koenck Steven E. ; Walter Jerry L. ; Kubler Joseph J. ; Cargin ; Jr. Keith K. ; Hanson George E. ; Davis Patrick H. ; Kunert Steven R. ; Schultz Darald R., Vehicular data system for communicating with remote host.
Mangette, Stephen T.; Hammer, Joe K.; Barnhart, Brent A., Steering and traction applications for determining a steering control attribute and a traction control attribute.
Mangette, Stephen T.; Hammer, Joe K.; Barnhart, Brent A., Steering and traction applications for determining a steering control attribute and a traction control attribute.
Kraimer, James V.; Pollack, Jay G.; Wellman, Timothy A.; Manci, Lewis H.; Siefring, Vernon W.; Schumacher, Mark E.; Green, Matthew M.; Castaneda, Anthony T., Systems and methods of remotely controlling a materials handling vehicle.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.