METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TESTING A REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE

Abstract

Testing the operating characteristics of a remote control device (32) associated with a material handling vehicle may include waiting for the receipt of a first input indicating that a first button on the remote control device (32) has been pressed, wherein the first button comprises a scroll button (197A) of the remote control device (32). The test may further include waiting for the receipt, after receiving the first input, of a second input indicating that at least a second button (197B-C) on the remote control device (32) has been pressed, wherein the second button (197B-C) relates to a first auxiliary function of the vehicle.The test further comprises determining whether a predetermined button-pressing sequence is successful or not based at least in part on the reception or non-reception of the first and second inputs; and, optionally, driving a display in the vehicle to provide a visual indication of whether the button-pressing sequence is successful or not based on the determination.

Description

Material handling vehicles are commonly used for stock picking in warehouses and distribution centers. These vehicles typically include a power unit and a load handling assembly, which may include forklifts. The vehicle also has control systems to manage its operation and movement. In a typical picking operation, an operator fulfills orders for available stock items located in designated storage areas along one or more aisles of a warehouse or distribution center. The operator drives the vehicle between various picking locations where the items are to be collected. The operator may drive the vehicle using the vehicle's control structures or by means of a wireless remote control device associated with the vehicle, such as the remote control device described in U.S. Common Property Patent No. 9,082,293, the full description of which is incorporated by reference. Brief description of the invention According to a first aspect, a method is provided for testing the operational characteristics of a remote control device associated with a material handling vehicle, the method comprising: waiting for the receipt, by a processor, of a first input indicating that a first button of the remote control device has been pressed, wherein the first button comprises a displacement button of the remote control device; waiting for the receipt, by the processor after receiving the first input, of a second input indicating that at least a second button of the remote control device has been pressed, wherein the second button relates to a first auxiliary function of the vehicle; determining, by means of the processor, whether a predetermined button-pressing sequence is successful or not based, at least in part, on receiving or not receiving the first and second inputs;and to activate, via the processor, a display in the vehicle to provide a visual indication of whether the button-pressing sequence is successful or not based on the determination.; The determination can be based, at least in part, on the processor determining whether the second input is received within a predetermined time period after receiving the first input. Before waiting for the first or second input to be received, the processor may detect that the remote control device is connected to a vehicle charging station, and where the determination may be based, at least in part, on the processor determining whether or not the first input is received within a predetermined time period after the detection that the remote control is connected to the charging station. The first auxiliary function refers to a vehicle's horn, a vehicle's brake, or the operation of a vehicle's forks. MA / a / ZUZJ / UU 1 / 03 The second entry may be indicative that at least the second button and a third button of the remote control device have been pressed simultaneously, wherein the third button is related to a second auxiliary function of the vehicle and wherein the first auxiliary function may be related to the horn of a vehicle, the brake of a vehicle or the operation of the forks of a vehicle, and the second auxiliary function may be related to a function other than the horn of a vehicle, the brake of the vehicle or the operation of the forks of the vehicle. The processor, after receiving the first and second inputs, can expect to receive a third input indicating that at least a third button on the remote control device has been pressed, where the third button relates to a second auxiliary function of the vehicle; and the processor can determine whether the predetermined button-pressing sequence is successful or not based, at least in part, on receiving or not receiving the first, second, and third inputs. The determination can be based, at least in part, on the processor determining whether the third input is received within a predetermined time period after receiving the second input. The default button-pressing sequence may include the remote control device's scroll button being the first button pressed. According to a second aspect, a system is provided for testing the operational characteristics of a remote control device associated with a material handling vehicle; the system may comprise a memory device that stores executable instructions; and a processor in communication with the memory device.In particular, the processor, when executing the executable instructions: can wait for the receipt of a first input indicating that a first button of the remote control device has been pressed, wherein the first button comprises a scroll button of the remote control device; can wait for the receipt, after receiving the first input, of a second input indicating that at least a second button of the remote control device has been pressed, wherein the second button refers to a first auxiliary function of the vehicle; can determine whether a predetermined button-pressing sequence is successful or not based, at least in part, on receiving or not receiving the first and second inputs; and can activate a display in the vehicle to provide a visual indication of whether the button-pressing sequence is successful or not based on the determination. The determination can be based, at least in part, on the processor determining whether the second input is received within a predetermined time period after receiving the first input. Before waiting for the first or second input to be received, the processor may detect that the remote control device is connected to a vehicle charging station, and where the determination may be based, at least in part, on the processor determining whether or not the first input is received within a predetermined time period after the detection that the remote control is connected to the charging station. MA.a.ZUZIW 1 / 03 The first auxiliary function refers to a vehicle's horn, a vehicle's brake, or the operation of a vehicle's forks. The second entry may be indicative that at least the second button and a third button of the remote control device have been pressed simultaneously, wherein the third button is related to a second auxiliary function of the vehicle and wherein the first auxiliary function may be related to the horn of a vehicle, the brake of a vehicle or the operation of the forks of a vehicle, and the second auxiliary function may be related to a function other than the horn of a vehicle, the brake of the vehicle or the operation of the forks of the vehicle. The processor, after receiving the first and second inputs, can expect to receive a third input indicating that at least a third button on the remote control device has been pressed, where the third button relates to a second auxiliary function of the vehicle; and the processor can determine whether the predetermined button-pressing sequence is successful or not based, at least in part, on receiving or not receiving the first, second, or third inputs. The determination can be based, at least in part, on the processor determining whether the third input is received within a predetermined time period after receiving the second input. The default button-pressing sequence may include the remote control device's scroll button being the first button pressed. Brief description of the drawings FIGS. 1 and 2 are the side and top views of a material handling vehicle capable of operating wirelessly remotely according to various aspects of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a side view of another material handling vehicle capable of operating wirelessly remotely in accordance with several aspects of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of several components of a material handling vehicle capable of operating wirelessly remotely according to several aspects of the present invention. FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are views of a remote control device according to various aspects of the present invention. FIGS. 8A and 8B are the cropped views showing a remote control device coupled to a charging station according to various aspects of the present invention. FIGS. 9 and 10 are views of another remote control device according to several aspects of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of several components of a charging station according to various aspects of the present invention. FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 are views showing a remote control device and a charging station according to various aspects of the present invention. FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of several components of a remote control device according to several aspects of the present invention. MA.a.ZUZ J / UU1 / 03 FIG. 16 represents a method according to various aspects of the present invention. FIG. 17 represents a matching method according to various aspects of the present invention. FIG. 18 represents another method of pairing according to various aspects of the present invention. FIG. 19 represents a method for repairing a vehicle and a remote control device according to several aspects of the present invention. FIG. 20 represents a method for restoring communication between a vehicle and a remote control device according to several aspects of the present invention. FIG. 21 represents a method for charging a remote control device according to various aspects of the present invention. FIG. 22 represents another method for charging a remote control device according to various aspects of the present invention. FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram of several components of a kit according to various aspects of the present invention. FIG. 24 is a view of another remote control device according to several aspects of the present invention. FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram illustrating several aspects of the present invention. FIGS. 26 and 27 illustrate a remote control device and a charging station constructed according to another modality. Figures 28A, 28B, 28C, 28D, 28E, 28F, 28G, 28H, and 28I illustrate various states for the first and second visual indicators of the charging station in Figures 26 and 27. Detailed description of the invention The following detailed description of the illustrated embodiments refers to the accompanying drawings, which form part of the invention and are shown for illustrative purposes only, not as a limitation. It should be understood that other embodiments may be used and that changes may be made without departing from the scope and reach of various embodiments of the present invention. Low-level garbage truck With reference now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a material handling vehicle 10, illustrated as a low-level collection truck, includes a load handling assembly 12 extending from a power unit 14. The vehicle 10 forms part of a system 8 according to aspects of the invention, which system 8 will be described in more detail below. The load handling assembly 12 includes a pair of forks 16, each fork 16 having a load-bearing wheel assembly 18. The load handling assembly 12 may include other load handling features in addition to, or instead of, the illustrated arrangement of the forks 16, such as a load backrest, scissor-type lifting forks, stabilizers, or separate height-adjustable forks, as some examples. Furthermore, the load handling assembly 12 may include features of MA.a.ZUZJiW 1 / 03 Load handling such as a mast, loading platform, collection cage, or other support structure carried by the forks 16 or otherwise provided for handling a load supported and carried by the vehicle 10. Although the present description is made with reference to the illustrated vehicle 10, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the vehicle 10 may comprise a variety of other industrial vehicles, such as a forklift, reach truck, etc., and that the following description of the invention with reference to the figures should not be limited to a collection truck unless otherwise specified. Furthermore, the vehicle 10 may be implemented in other formats, styles, and features, including a vehicle 10 that does not include a load handling assembly, such as a trailer vehicle, etc. The illustrated power unit 14 comprises an operator station 20 that divides a first end section of the power unit 14 (opposite the forks 16) from a second end section (near the forks 16). The operator station 20 includes a platform 21 on which an operator can stand to drive the vehicle 10 and / or provide a position from which the operator can operate various functions of the vehicle 10. Presence sensors 22 (see FIG. 2) can be provided to detect the presence of an operator in the vehicle 10. For example, the presence sensors 22 can be located on, above, or below the platform 21, or be provided with any other element around the operator's station 20. In the example vehicle 10 of FIG. 2, the presence sensors 22 are shown as dashed lines, indicating that they are positioned below the platform 21. Under this arrangement, the presence sensors 22 can comprise load sensors, switches, etc. Alternatively, the presence sensors 22 can be implemented above the platform 21, for example, by using ultrasonic, capacitive, or other suitable sensing technology. The use of presence sensors 22 will be described in more detail later in this document. According to one embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle 10 may include a pole extending vertically from the power unit 14 and incorporating an antenna 30 provided for receiving control signals from a corresponding wireless remote control device 32. The pole may include a light 33 at its top, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. According to another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2A, the antenna may be located within other vehicle components, such that the control signals from the remote control device 32 are received elsewhere on the vehicle 10, as will be explained below. The remote control device 32 comprises an additional system component 8, which will be described in more detail below. The remote control device 32 can be manually operated by an operator, for example, by pressing a button or other control, to cause the remote control device 32 to wirelessly transmit at least one Type 1 signal designating a move request to a vehicle 10 that is paired with the remote control device 32. The move request is a command that requests the vehicle 10 to move, as will be described in more detail later in this document. Although the remote control device 32 is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 MA.a.ZUZJ.W 1 / 03 as a finger-mounted structure, numerous implementations of the remote control device 32 can be implemented, including, for example, a glove structure, a lanyard or band-mounted structure, etc. Furthermore, the vehicle 10 and the remote control device 32 may comprise additional and / or alternative features or implementations, examples of which are described in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60 / 825,688, filed September 14, 2006, entitled “REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A MATERIAL HANDLING VEHICLE;” U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 11 / 855,310, filed September 14, 2007, entitled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REMOTE CONTROL OF A MATERIAL HANDLING VEHICLE”, now U.S. Patent No. 9,082,293; U.S. Patent Application No.of Serial No. 11 / 855,324, filed on September 14, 2007, entitled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REMOTE CONTROL OF A MATERIAL HANDLING VEHICLE”, now U.S. Patent No. 8,072,309; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61 / 222,632, filed on July 2, 2009, entitled “APPARATUS FOR REMOTE CONTROL OF A MATERIAL HANDLING VEHICLE”; U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 12 / 631,007, filed on December 4, 2009, entitled “MULTI-ZONE SENSOR FOR MATERIAL HANDLING VEHICLES”, now U.S. Patent No. 9,645,968; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61 / 119,952, filed on December 4, 2008, entitled “MULTI-ZONE DETECTION FOR REMOTELY CONTROLLED MATERIAL HANDLING VEHICLES; and / or U.S. Patent No.7,017,689, issued on March 28, 2006, entitled “ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST FOR MATERIAL HANDLING VEHICLES”; the full descriptions of which are each incorporated herein by reference. Additional details relating to remote control device 32 will be discussed in detail below. The vehicle 10 also comprises one or more contactless obstacle sensors 40, which are provided around the vehicle 10, for example, towards the first end section of the power unit 14, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The obstacle sensors 40 can function to define at least one detection zone. For example, at least one detection zone can define an area at least partially in front of a direction of travel of the vehicle 10 when the vehicle 10 travels in response to a travel request received wirelessly from the remote control device 32, as will also be described in more detail in this document. The obstacle sensors 40 can comprise any suitable proximity sensing technology, such as ultrasonic sensors, image capture devices, infrared sensors, laser scanner sensors, etc., that are capable of detecting the presence of objects / obstacles or are capable of generating signals that can be analyzed to detect the presence of objects / obstacles within predefined detection zones. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle 10 includes a first obstacle detector 42 and a pair of second obstacle detectors 44A and 44B mounted on the power unit 14. The first obstacle detector 42 is separated from the second obstacle detectors 44A and 44B along a vertical axis VA of the vehicle 10 that defines a vertical direction; that is, the second obstacle detectors 44A and 44B are located below (closer to the ground than) the first obstacle detector 42, see FIG. 1.The second obstacle detectors 44A and 44B are separated from each other along a horizontal axis HAdel vehicle 10 that defines a horizontal direction, see FIG. 2. The first obstacle detector 42 may comprise a scanning laser sensor capable of detecting objects, for example, in the first, second, and third zones Z, Z2, Z3 (also referred to herein as scanning zones or detection zones), wherein the first, second, and third zones Z, Z2, Z3 may comprise flat zones, see FIGS. 1 and 2. The second zone Z2 may comprise a “braking zone,” and the first and third zones Z, Z3 may comprise left and right “steering bumper zones,” such as the braking zone and left and right steering bumper zones described in U.S. Patent 8,452,464, issued May 28, 2013, entitled “STEERING CORRECTION FOR A REMOTELY OPERATED MATERIAL HANDLING VEHICLE,” the full description of which is incorporated herein by reference.It is observed that the first obstacle detector 42 may be capable of detecting objects in more or fewer zones than the three zones Zb, Z2, Z3 illustrated. In an example detection zone configuration, any or all of the detection zones may be used as described in U.S. Patent No. 9,002,581 issued April 7, 2015, entitled “OBJECT STEERING AND TRACKING MANEUVERS FOR MATERIAL HANDLING VEHICLES,” the full description of which is incorporated herein by reference. The second obstacle detectors 44A and 44B may comprise point laser sensors capable of detecting objects between one or more of the zones Z1, Z2, Z3 of the first obstacle detector 42 and the vehicle 10, i.e., below one or more of the zones Z1, Z2, Z3, as illustrated in FIG. 1, and / or beyond the zones Z1, Z2, Z3, and are preferably capable of detecting at least objects below the second zone Z2. The second obstacle detectors 44A and 44B are therefore capable of detecting objects located in a non-detection zone DZ of the first obstacle detector 42, see FIG. 1, i.e., such a non-detection zone DZ is defined as an area below the zones Z1, Z2, Z3 and, therefore, not detected by the first obstacle detector 42.Therefore, the first obstacle detector 42 functions to detect objects located along the displacement path of the power unit 14 beyond the non-detection zone DZ, while the second obstacle detectors 44A and 44B function to detect objects along the displacement path of the power unit 14 in the non-detection zone DZ, which is located directly in front of the vehicle 10, as shown in FIG. 1. Additional sensor configurations and / or detection zones may be used, as described in the various patents and patent applications incorporated herein by reference. Vehicle 10, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, further includes a charging station 50 comprising an additional system component 8 and provided for charging a rechargeable power source of the remote control device 32. Further details relating to the charging station 50 will be described later. Control system for remote operation of a low-level order collection truck With reference to FIG. 3, a block diagram illustrates a control arrangement for integrating remote control commands with the vehicle 10. A receiver 102, which may be a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) radio, for example, is provided to receive commands issued by the remote control device 32. The receiver 102 passes the received control signals to a controller 103, which implements the appropriate response to the received commands and may therefore also be referred to herein as the master controller. In this sense, the controller 103 is implemented in hardware and may also execute software (including firmware, resident software, microcode, etc.). Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embedded in one or more computer-readable media having computer-readable program code incorporated within it.For example, vehicle 10 may include a memory that stores the product of the computer program which, when implemented by a controller processor 103, implements steering correction as described in more detail in this document. Therefore, controller 103 can define, at least in part, a data processing system suitable for storing and / or executing program code and can include at least one processor coupled directly or indirectly to memory elements, for example, via a system bus or other suitable connection system. The memory elements can include local memory used during actual program code execution, memory integrated into a microcontroller or application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable gate array or other reconfigurable processing device, etc. The response implemented by controller 103 in response to commands received wirelessly, for example, via a wireless transmitter 178 from remote control device 32 (discussed later) and sent to receiver 102 in vehicle 10, may comprise one or more actions or inactions, depending on the logic being implemented. Positive actions may include controlling, adjusting, or otherwise affecting one or more components of vehicle 10. Controller 103 may also receive information from other inputs 104, for example, from sources such as presence sensors 22, obstacle sensors 40, switches, load sensors, encoders, and other devices / features available to vehicle 10, to determine the appropriate action in response to commands received from remote control device 32. Sensors 22, 40, etc.They can be coupled to controller 103 via inputs 104 or via a suitable bus network, such as a controller area network (CAN) bus 110. In an exemplary arrangement, the remote control device 32 is operative to wirelessly transmit a control signal representing a first-type signal, such as a travel command, to the receiver 102 in vehicle 10. The travel command is also called MA.a.ZUZLW 1 / 03 in this document refers to “displacement signal”, “displacement request”, or “travel signal”. The displacement request is used to initiate a request to the vehicle 10 to move, for example, while the receiver 102 receives the displacement signal and / or the remote control device 32 sends it, in a predetermined amount, for example, to make the vehicle 10 move forward or trot in a first direction for a limited displacement distance, or for a limited time. The first direction can be defined, for example, by the movement of the vehicle 10 in a power unit 14 first, i.e., the forks 16 towards the rear direction. However, other displacement directions can be defined alternatively. In addition, the vehicle 10 can be controlled to move in a generally straight direction or along a predetermined heading.Consequently, the limited displacement distance can be specified by an approximate displacement distance, displacement time, or other measure. Therefore, a first-type signal received by receiver 102 is communicated to controller 103. If controller 103 determines that the displacement signal is a valid displacement signal and that the current vehicle conditions are appropriate (explained in greater detail in U.S. Patent No. 9,082,293, which is incorporated herein by reference), controller 103 sends a signal to the appropriate control configuration of vehicle 10 to move forward and then stop vehicle 10. Stopping vehicle 10 can be implemented, for example, by allowing vehicle 10 to coast to a stop or by initiating a braking operation to bring vehicle 10 to a halt. As an example, controller 103 may be communicatively coupled to a traction control system, illustrated as a traction motor controller 106 of vehicle 10. The traction motor controller 106 is coupled to a traction motor 107 that drives at least one steering wheel 108 of vehicle 10. Controller 103 may communicate with the traction motor controller 106 to accelerate, decelerate, adjust, and / or otherwise limit the speed of vehicle 10 in response to receiving a travel request from the remote control device 32. Controller 103 may also be communicatively coupled to a steering controller 112, which is coupled to a steering motor 114 that steers at least one steering wheel 108 of vehicle 10.In this regard, vehicle 10 can be controlled by controller 103 to travel a planned path or maintain a planned course in response to receiving a displacement request from remote control device 32. As another illustrative example, controller 103 can communicatively couple to a brake controller 116 that controls the brakes of vehicle 117 to decelerate, stop, or otherwise control the speed of vehicle 10 in response to receiving a travel request from remote control device 32. Furthermore, controller 103 can communicatively couple to other vehicle features, such as main contactors 118 and / or other outputs 119 associated with vehicle 10, where appropriate, to implement the desired actions in response to the implementation of the remote travel functionality. MA.a.ZUZTW 1 / 03 According to several aspects of the present invention, the controller 103 can communicate with the receiver 102 and the traction motor controller 106 to operate the remotely controlled vehicle 10 in response to travel commands received from the associated remote control device 32. Furthermore, the controller 103 can be configured to perform various actions if the remotely controlled vehicle 10, in response to a travel request, detects an obstacle in one or more of the detection zones Z1, Z2, Z3. In this regard, when a travel signal is received by the controller 103 from the remote control device 32, the controller 103 can consider any number of factors to determine whether to act upon the received travel signal to initiate and / or maintain the movement of the vehicle 10. Consequently, if vehicle 10 moves in response to a command received by remote control device 32, controller 103 can dynamically alter, control, adjust, or otherwise affect the remote control operation, for example, by stopping vehicle 10, changing the direction / angle of vehicle 10, or taking other actions. Therefore, the particular characteristics of the vehicle, the state / condition of one or more vehicle characteristics, the vehicle's environment, etc., can influence how controller 103 responds to movement requests from remote control device 32. The controller 103 may refuse to acknowledge a received displacement request depending on predetermined conditions, for example, those related to environmental or operational factors. For instance, the controller 103 may ignore a displacement request that would otherwise be valid based on information obtained from one or more of the sensors 22, 40. For illustrative purposes, according to several aspects of the present invention, the controller 103 may optionally consider factors such as whether an operator is in the vehicle 10 when determining whether to respond to a displacement command from the remote control device 32. As noted above, the vehicle 10 may comprise at least one presence sensor 22 to detect whether an operator is positioned in the vehicle 10.In this regard, controller 103 can also be configured to respond to a movement request to operate vehicle 10 remotely when presence sensors 22 indicate that there is no operator in vehicle 10. Therefore, in this implementation, vehicle 10 cannot be operated in response to wireless commands from remote control device 32 unless the operator is physically outside of vehicle 10. Similarly, if obstacle sensors 40 detect that an object, including the operator, is adjacent to and / or near vehicle 10, controller 103 can refuse to acknowledge a movement request from remote control device 32.Therefore, in an exemplary implementation, an operator must be located within a limited range of vehicle 10, for example, close enough to vehicle 10 to be within wireless communication range (which may be limited to establish a maximum distance between the operator and vehicle 10). Alternatively, other arrangements may be implemented. Controller 103 may also / alternatively implement any other number of conditions, factors, parameters, or other reasonable considerations to interpret and take action MA.a.ZUZJ.W 1 / 03 in response to signals received from transmitter 178. Other exemplary factors are set forth in greater detail in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60 / 825,688, entitled 'SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REMOTE CONTROL OF A MATERIAL HANDLING VEHICLE'; U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 11 / 855,310, entitled 'SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REMOTELY CONTROLLING A MATERIAL HANDLING VEHICLE', now U.S. Patent Serial No. 9,082,293; U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 11 / 855,324, entitled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REMOTELY CONTROLLING A MATERIAL HANDLING VEHICLE” now U.S. Patent No. 8,072,309; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61 / 222,632, entitled “APPARATUS FOR REMOTE CONTROL OF A MATERIAL HANDLING VEHICLE”; U.S. Patent Application No.of Serial No. 12 / 631,007, entitled “MULTI-ZONE DETECTION FOR MATERIAL HANDLING VEHICLES”, now U.S. Patent No. 9,645,968; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61 / 119,952, entitled “MULTI-ZONE DETECTION FOR REMOTELY CONTROLLED MATERIAL HANDLING VEHICLES”; the descriptions of which are already incorporated by reference herein. Upon recognizing a travel request, controller 103 interacts with the traction motor controller 106, either directly or indirectly, for example, via a bus such as the CAN bus 110 if used, to advance vehicle 10. Depending on the specific implementation, controller 103 may interact with the traction motor controller 106 and, optionally, the steering controller 112, to advance vehicle 10 while a travel control signal is received. Alternatively, controller 103 may interact with the traction motor controller 106 and, optionally, the steering controller 112, to advance vehicle 10 for a predetermined period of time or distance in response to the detection and sustained actuation of a travel control signal on the remote control device 32.Furthermore, controller 103 can be configured to “time out” and stop the movement of vehicle 10 based on a predetermined event, such as exceeding a predetermined time period or travel distance, regardless of the detection of sustained actuation of a corresponding control on the remote control device 32. The remote control device 32 can also function to transmit a second-type signal, such as a "stop signal," indicating that vehicle 10 must brake and / or otherwise stop. The second-type signal can also be implied, for example, after implementing a "move" command—for example, after vehicle 10 has moved a predetermined distance, moved for a predetermined time, etc., under remote control in response to the move command. If controller 103 determines that the received signal is a stop signal, controller 103 sends a signal to the traction motor controller 106, the brake controller 116, and / or another component of the truck to stop vehicle 10. As an alternative to a stop signal, the second-type signal can comprise an "inertia signal" or a "surge signal." MA.a.ZUZJ.W 1 / 03 controlled deceleration” designating that vehicle 10 must slide by inertia, and eventually reduce speed until it stops. The time it takes to bring vehicle 10 to a complete stop can vary depending on factors such as the intended application, environmental conditions, the capabilities of the particular vehicle 10, its load, and other similar factors. For example, after completing an appropriate jogging maneuver, it may be desirable to allow vehicle 10 to coast a certain distance before coming to a complete stop. This can be achieved using regenerative braking to slow vehicle 10 to a standstill. Alternatively, a braking operation can be applied after a predetermined delay to allow vehicle 10 a predetermined additional travel distance after the stop operation begins.It may also be desirable to bring vehicle 10 to a relatively quick stop, for example, if an object is detected in vehicle 10's path of travel or if an immediate stop is desired after a successful manual operation. For example, controller 103 can apply a predetermined torque to the braking operation. Under such conditions, controller 103 can instruct brake controller 116 to apply brakes 117 to stop vehicle 10. Figure 3 also shows the vehicle's charging station 50, which can communicate with the controller 103. As will be explained in more detail below, the charging station 50 can be used to charge a rechargeable power source 180 of the wireless remote control device 32. The charging station 50 can be located on a side part of the vehicle 10, for example, near the operator station 20 close to the vehicle's manual driving controls 10, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, or on a side panel of the power unit 14. A pairing system 34 can use a short-range system to communicate wirelessly with a compatible short-range system in the wireless remote control device 32. Using the pairing system 34, a vehicle 10 and the wireless remote control device 32 can be “paired” so that a vehicle 10 transmits and receives messages only from its paired wireless remote control device 32. In addition to, or as an alternative to, short-range or other types of wireless communication, such as near-field communication (NFC), the pairing system 34 can also use physical contacts that allow electrical communication between the remote control device 32 and the vehicle 10, at least for the initial pairing procedure.For example, the electrical contacts of charging station 50 used to charge remote control device 32 could be used to pair vehicle 10 with remote control device 32, as will be described in more detail later in this document. The pairing system 34 includes components that physically implement the communication method (e.g., Bluetooth, NFC, BLE, Wi-Fi, etc.) used to send messages and includes components that programmatically exchange information in an agreed-upon protocol to establish and maintain a pairing. Therefore, the pairing system 34 includes a device that can execute programmable instructions to implement a predetermined algorithm and protocol for performing pairing operations. MA.a.ZUZJ.-W 1 / 03 In FIG. 3, the charging station 50, receiver 102, and pairing system 34 are represented as distinct functional blocks. However, an expert will recognize that two or more of these components can be combined into a single element to provide a multifunction device. System As stated above, the vehicle 10 (which includes the charging station 50) and the remote control device 32 form system 8 according to one aspect of the present invention. The remote control device 32 and the charging station 50 will be described below. With reference to FIGS. 4 to 8B, the remote control device 32 according to this embodiment is a finger-mounted device, although the remote control device 32 could take other forms, such as a glove-mounted device, a wrist-mounted device, a lanyard-mounted device, etc. The remote control device 32 can be mounted on one, two, or more than two fingers of the operator. The remote control device 32 illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 8B comprises a rigid polymeric base 172 (see FIG. 6) and a rigid polymeric upper housing 174. The base 172 and the upper housing 174 are coupled together in any suitable manner and define an internal area 176 for receiving the internal components of the remote control device 32, including a wireless communication system 456 comprising a wireless transmitter 178, such as the wireless transmitter 178 described above with reference to FIG. 3, and a rechargeable power source 180. In one exemplary embodiment, the wireless transmitter 178 comprises a model BGM121 manufactured by SiLabs.It is noted that the terms “transmitter” and “receiver”, as used in this document, mean a device capable of one-way communication, i.e., the device only transmits or receives signals, or a device capable of two-way communication, such as a transceiver, which transmits and receives signals. The rechargeable power source 180 can be a supercapacitor, a high-capacity battery, etc. For example, an AVX supercapacitor, model SCCR20E335PRB, with a nominal voltage of 3V and a capacitance of 3.3F, can be used. The rechargeable power source 180 is small enough to fit within the internal area 176 and at the same time has sufficient capacity with a substantially full charge to provide a usage period of the remote control device 32 of at least two hours, at least four hours, at least eight hours, or more. A usage period of up to eight hours may be preferable to correspond with an eight-hour work shift for an operator. A supercapacitor (also called an electronic double-layer capacitor or ultracapacitor) is a high-capacity capacitor with much higher capacitance values ​​than other capacitors, but typically with lower voltage limits, bridging the gap between electrolytic capacitors and rechargeable batteries. They typically store 10 to 100 times more energy per unit volume or mass than electrolytic capacitors, can accept and deliver charge much faster than batteries, and tolerate many more charge and discharge cycles than rechargeable batteries. Because the MA.a.ZUZJ.W 1 / 03 Supercapacitors can be used in applications requiring many rapid charge / discharge cycles. Some embodiments of the remote control device 32 may include a supercapacitor as a rechargeable power source 180. In embodiments of the present invention, the current supplied to the supercapacitor can be limited to about 2 A, and a full charge can be achieved in about 2 seconds or less. Regardless of the specific type of rechargeable power source 180 used, the embodiments of the present invention contemplate recharging the rechargeable power source 180 to a desired amount, such as a full charge state, or a charge state less than a substantially full charge state (as will be discussed in detail herein), via the charging station 50 within a desired charging period.The power supplied to the rechargeable power source 180 by the charging station 50 may vary according to the capacity of the rechargeable power source 180, the desired amount of charge and / or the desired charging period, as will be discussed in more detail in this document. With reference to FIG. 6, the remote control device 32 further comprises a safety structure 188 for securing the remote control device 32 to one or more fingers of the operator's hand. The safety structure 188 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 comprises a fastening strap 190 which includes, for example, self-adhesive tape fasteners 191 for securing the fastening strap 190 to a single finger, for example, the index finger, of the operator. The remote control device 32 is provided with first and second slots 192A and 192B located at opposite ends of the remote control device 32 for receiving the fastening strap 190. The retaining strap 190 shown in FIG. 6 defines a first finger receiving area 194 for receiving the single finger Of (see FIGS. 1 and 2) of an operator using the remote control device 32. Both right and left versions of the remote control device 32 can be created. The remote control device 32 is held in place so that it can be released onto the operator's index finger via the retaining strap 190. In one exemplary embodiment, a first end 190A of the retaining strap 190 is threaded through the first slot 192A, and a second end 190B of the retaining strap 190 is threaded through the second slot 192B.The first end 190A of the retaining strap 190 can be permanently attached to the rigid base 172, for example, by sewing or gluing, while the second end 190B of the retaining strap 190 can be releasably inserted through the second slot 192B and folded back so that the self-adhesive tape fasteners 191 hook together to secure the retaining strap 190 to the operator's finger. The retaining strap 190 can be adjusted to accommodate different finger sizes or so that the remote control device 32 can be used over a glove (not shown). Note that other types of retaining straps 190 can be used. The remote control device 32 further comprises at least one control, represented in FIGS. 4 to 8B as first, second, and third controls 196A-C. Each of the controls 196A-C comprises a button 197A-C and a two-state switch 198A-C located below the corresponding button 197A-C. The switches 198A-C are connected to the wireless communication system 456, such that the actuation of each of the controls 196A-C causes the wireless transmitter 178 to wirelessly transmit a respective request to the vehicle 10. In the exemplary remote control device 32 represented in FIGS.4 to 8B: The first control 196A comprises a travel button 197A which, when pressed, causes the wireless transmitter 178 to wirelessly transmit a request for the vehicle 10 to travel across the ground surface; the second control 196B comprises a start button 197B which, when pressed, causes the wireless transmitter 178 to wirelessly transmit a request for the vehicle 10 to sound an audible / start alarm; and the third control 196C comprises a brake button 197C which, when pressed, causes the wireless transmitter 178 to wirelessly transmit a request for the vehicle to stop (if moving under wireless control) and, optionally, to shut down. The remote control device 32 is compact, and substantially the entire device can be mounted and placed directly on the operator's index finger. Therefore, interference from the operator performing work tasks caused by the use of the remote control device 32 is minimal or nonexistent. The remote control device 32 is robust and long-lasting because the rigid base 172 and the upper housing 174 are preferably made of a rigid and durable polymeric material, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate, or nylon. The rigid base 172 and the upper housing 174 define a durable, generally inflexible, and rigid structure. An operator can easily manually actuate the travel button 197A with their thumb to cause the wireless transmitter 178 to wirelessly transmit at least one Type 1 signal designating a travel request or command to vehicle 10. It is envisaged that the travel request may result in vehicle 10 traveling for as long as the operator holds the travel button 197A, or for a predetermined distance or amount of time. The start button 197B and the brake button 197C can be actuated by the operator's opposite hand, for example. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the remote control device 32 further comprises one or more load contacts 210, noting that additional or fewer load contacts 210 than the four shown may be used; for example, one load contact 210 or two or more load contacts 210 may be used. Additionally, the remote control device 32 further includes one or more sensors in the form of first presence contacts 212, illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 as a single first presence contact 212 located intermediate between the four load contacts 210. The load and first presence contacts 210, 212 may be arranged within openings 214 formed in an outer surface of the upper housing 174 of the remote control device 32.The upper portions of the load and first presence contacts 210, 212 can be positioned beneath the outer surface of the upper housing; that is, the load and first presence contacts 210, 212 can be recessed within the openings 214, which can prevent damage to the load and first presence contacts 210, 212 from accidental contact. It is noted that other configurations could be used for the number, orientation, and location of the contacts. MA / a / ZUZJ / UU 1 / 03 load contacts 210 and the first presence contact(s) 212 without departing from the scope and reach of the invention. In certain configurations, the charging contacts 210 are coupled or engaged with elements, for example, electrical contacts or charging elements 220 of the vehicle charging station 50 (which will be discussed below), and the first presence contact 212 is coupled or engaged with a second complementary sensor in the form of a second presence contact 222, such as a switch, pogo pin, or push pin, for example, of the vehicle sensor, the charging station 50, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B and described in more detail in this document. It should be noted that one or more of the charging contacts 210 and the corresponding charging elements 220 may be provided for redundancy. In one example, the four charging contacts 210 illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 7 and four charging elements 220 illustrated in FIGS.12 to 14 could be configured as two pairs of redundant 210 / 220 contacts / elements, where charging the rechargeable 180 power source (as discussed below) is enabled whenever one 210 charging contact of each pair is connected and in electrical communication with its corresponding 220 charging element. The embodiments of the present invention also include contactless, or inductive, charging, wherein the rechargeable power source 180 of the remote control device 32 can be charged by the remote control device 32 being located very close to, or on the surface of, a compatible inductive charging station (not shown). Such an inductive charging station can be located, for example, on a driving or steering control of the vehicle 10 so that the rechargeable power source 180 can be charged while the operator manually drives the vehicle 10 from the operator station 20. Figures 9 and 10 illustrate another exemplary remote control device 32, wherein similar reference numbers correspond to components similar to those listed above for Figures 4 to 8B. The remote control device 32 according to this embodiment is provided as a two-finger design, i.e., the safety structure 188 in the embodiment shown in Figures 9 and 10 comprises a retaining strap 190 defining the first and second finger receiving areas 194, 195 for receiving the index and middle fingers of an operator using the remote control device 32. The remote control device 32, according to Figures 9 and 10, includes two load contacts 210 instead of the four load contacts 210 in the remote control device 32 of Figures 4 to 8B. The remaining components of the remote control device 32 of Figures 9 and 10 are... 9 and 10 can generally be the same as remote control device 32 of FIGS.4 to 8B and therefore will not be described in detail in this document. FIG. 11 provides a functional block-level diagram of a vehicle charging station 50 according to the principles of the present invention, wherein the pairing system 34 is incorporated into the charging station 50. As explained in more detail below, the charging station 50 may include the receiver 102, for example, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) radio 402 that can communicate with the vehicle controller MA.a.ZUZJ.W 1 / 03 103. Although not shown, communication can be via the vehicle's CAN bus, and therefore the charging station 50 may include a CAN bus interface. The charging station 50 may also include one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 404 or other visual indicators to help convey information to an operator. For example, an LED may be used to indicate that a remote control device 32 is currently docked with the charging station 50. Other LEDs may indicate the current charging status of the remote control device's rechargeable power supply 180.A current limiter 406 or other protective circuitry may be provided to help ensure that a remote control device 32 is safely recharged. The current limiter 406 allows the vehicle's power supply voltage to be supplied to the charging elements 220 of the charging station 50 to charge the remote control device's rechargeable power supply 180. These charging elements 220 interact with the charging contacts 210 of the remote control device 32 and provide the electrical connection between the vehicle's power supply and the remote control device 32's rechargeable power supply 180. The second presence contact 222 engages with the first presence contact 212 to detect when a remote control device 32 is physically connected to the charging station 50, so that the charging contacts 210 engage with the charging elements 220.According to the modalities, when the second presence contact 222 is coupled with the first presence contact 212, the pairing process begins. It is observed that the first and second presence contacts 212, 222 can be provided respectively in the remote control device 32 or in the charging station 50. That is, while the second presence contact 222 is illustrated in the charging station 50 and the first presence contact 212 in the remote control device 32, the second presence contact 222 could be located in the remote control device 32 and the first presence contact 212 could be located in the charging station 50. The relationship between the second presence contact 222 and the charging elements 220 is such that the charging contacts 210 of the remote control device 32 and the charging elements 220 of the charging station 50 are in contact with each other before the second presence contact 222 engages the first presence contact 212 when a charging procedure is initiated, see FIG. 8A, which shows that the height of the second presence contact 222 is less than the height of the charging elements 220, the heights measured with respect to the upper surfaces of the housings of the elements 220A and a second presence contact housing 222A from which the respective charging elements 220 and extended second presence contact 222 emerge.The supply of power from the charging station 50 to the remote control device 32 through the charging elements / charging contacts 220 / 210 is only initiated after the second presence contact 222 engages with the first presence contact 212. During a charging procedure, the charging contacts 210 of the remote control device 32 engage with the charging elements 220 of the charging station 50, and the second presence contact 222 engages with the first presence contact 212, enabling the supply of power from the charging station 50 to the remote control device 32 through the charging elements / charging contacts 220 / 210, see FIG. 8B.After the rechargeable power source 180 is charged to the desired level, for example, fully charged or charged to a desired level below full charge as described herein, the power supply from the charging station 50 to the remote control device 32 via the charging elements / charging contacts 220 / 210 is cut off. If the remote control device 32 is removed from the charging station 50 before the rechargeable power source 180 is charged to the desired level, when the remote control device 32 is removed from the charging station 50, the second presence contact 222 disconnects from the first presence contact 212 before the charging elements 220 disconnect from the charging contacts 210.The power supply from the charging station 50 to the rechargeable power source 180 of the remote control device 32 through the charging elements / charging contacts 220 / 210 is cut off when the second presence contact 222 is disconnected from the first presence contact 212. This arrangement is intended to prevent arcing between the charging elements 220 and the charging contacts 210.The use of the first presence contact 212 and the second presence contact 222 in the form of a pogo pin provides the following advantages: precise control of the relative heights of the second presence contact 222 and the load elements 220; a small footprint, a good seal, for example, to prevent moisture from entering the housing of the second presence contact 222A from around the second presence contact 222; and it allows differentiation between the first presence contact 212 and a foreign object, such as a piece of metal, preventing electric current from flowing to that foreign object if it were to come into contact with the second presence contact 222 and one or more of the load elements 220. As an alternative to the presence contacts 212, 222 used to initiate power supply from the charging station 50 to the remote control device 32, a separate switch may be provided that the operator activates to begin charging. In a specific mode using inductive charging, this switch may be integrated into the vehicle's steering control, so that the operator's grip on the steering control is detected and charging is subsequently enabled. The controls 414 that provide control signals to operate the LEDs 404 can be from various sources. While the remote control device 32 is operating within range of the charging station 50, the controller 103 can receive information about the charging status of the rechargeable power source 180 and control the display of the LEDs 404 to transmit this information using a CAN bus interface, for example. When the remote control device 32 is paired with the charging station 50, the LEDs 404 can be used to transmit: a) that a remote control device 32 is physically connected to the charging station 50, b) that a remote control device 32 is currently paired with the vehicle's controller 103, c) the charging progress / status of a current charging operation, and / or d) the charging status of the rechargeable power source 180.Information from elements c) and d) can be sent to the charging station 50 using the remote control device 32, for example, via a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) connection. MA / a / ZUZJ / UU 1 / 03 (in English), whose BLE connection will be analyzed in more detail below. According to one aspect, since the pairing and charging processes are very fast, the LEDs 404 may not display the charging progress / status of a current charging operation. The remote control device 32 can store its charging profile and then send the charging profile to the charging station 50, for example, via the BLE connection, after the remote control device 32 is removed from the charging station 50, where the charging profile can be evaluated, for example, by the controller 103, to determine if adequate charging of the rechargeable power source 180 occurred.The second presence contact 222 can also send control signals to the controls 414 indicating whether the load contacts 210 of the remote control device 32 are correctly coupled with the corresponding load elements 220 of the charging station 50. Figures 12 to 14 illustrate other features of the charging station 50 located on the vehicle 10. The charging station 50 may include one or more physical protrusions or guide structures 420 that help guide the remote control device 32 into the correct alignment so that the charging elements of the station 220 are aligned with the charging contacts 210 of the remote control device 32; that is, the guide structures 420 align with the remote control device 32 in the proper orientation for charging the rechargeable power source 180. In Figure 12, a single guide structure 420 including a plurality of guide surfaces is shown.The guide structures 420 can be positioned around the location of the loading elements 220 and can be shaped or tilted so that the remote control device 32 is physically guided to correct alignment when the operator places the remote control device 32 on the loading station 50. In FIG. 13, the LEDs 404 include a visual indicator 424 that indicates that a remote control device 32 is connected to the charging station 50. The visual indicator 424 can light up, flash, or gradually fill with the first color to indicate that the remote control device 32 is connected to the charging station 50, and with the second color or first color fully filled to indicate that the remote control device 32 has been paired with the vehicle controller 103; i.e., the visual indicator 424 can use the second color or the first color fully filled to serve as a pairing indicator that confirms the establishment of communication between the remote control device 32 and the vehicle 10.Furthermore, according to an optional aspect of the invention, the LEDs 404 may blink, illuminate as a second color, or provide some other visual indication after communication has been established between the remote control device 32 and the vehicle 10, as a signal for the operator to perform an action as a test to confirm that the remote control device 32 is functional and can communicate with the vehicle 10, such as pressing the horn button 197B and the brake button 197C simultaneously. It is understood that separate indicators may be used to indicate that a remote control device 32 is connected to the charging station 50 and to indicate that the remote control device 32 has been paired with the vehicle 10, as opposed to a single indicator, which may perform both functions. The 404 LEDs can also serve as an indicator to identify the progress of a recharge operation when the remote control device 32 is connected. When the device MA / a / ZUZJ / UU 1 / 03 When remote control 32 is not connected to charging station 50, LEDs 404 can serve as an indicator to show the current charging status of the rechargeable power source 180 of the remote control device 32. Therefore, LEDs 404 can indicate the charging status of the rechargeable power source 180 both when the rechargeable power source 180 is being charged at charging station 50 and during the use of the remote control device 32, i.e., while the operator is using the remote control device 32 to assist in the work operation mode. In one example, LEDs 404 can comprise a series of lights, each light representing a level of the charging status of the rechargeable power source 180. Figures 12 and 14 show an exemplary location of the second presence contact 222 within the charging station 50. Note that the remote control device 32 illustrated in Figures 12 to 14 is the single-finger mode of Figures 4 to 7. Also note that the charging contacts 210 and the first presence contact 212 of the single-finger and two-finger modes could be arranged to mirror each other. Therefore, the same charging station 50 could be used for instances of the single-finger or two-finger remote control devices 32. The charging station 50 can be located in various places on the vehicle 10. Its location must be such that it does not interfere with the normal operation of the vehicle 10, but is accessible and convenient for the operator. In some modes, the charging station 50 is located in the operator station 20 (see FIGS. 1 and 2, where the charging station 50 is located in the operator station 20 but is also accessible from outside the vehicle 10), on a surface on one of the sides of the vehicle 10, or, for the inductive charging mode, within the steering control of the vehicle 10. The charging station 50 may include a voltage regulator (not shown) that transforms the vehicle power 10 received by the charging station 50 into a regulated direct current (DC) voltage signal selected based on the charging characteristics of the rechargeable power source 180. For example, in a mode where the rechargeable power source 180 is an AVX supercapacitor described above or an equivalent device, a supply voltage of 3V DC (1%) could be provided to the current limiter 406. It is noted that the remote control device 32 is described herein in an exemplary configuration and can be structurally modified without departing from the scope and extent of the invention. For example, one or more components of the remote control device 32 can be combined into an integral component, or the components can be replaced by alternative components that have a similar / identical purpose. In one embodiment, charging of the rechargeable power source 180 via the charging station 50 occurs when one or more charging contacts 210 engage with a corresponding charging element 220 of the charging station 50. In some embodiments, at least two charging contacts 210 or at least four charging contacts 210 and corresponding charging elements 220 are present. In some embodiments, one or more pairs of charging contacts 210 are provided, wherein at least one charging contact 210 of each pair must engage with a corresponding charging element 220 for charging to occur. As described above, at least one of the MA.a.ZUZ J / UU1 / 03 remote control device 32 and charging station 50 may include a second presence contact 222, such as a switch, for example. The second presence contact 222 detects whether at least one charging contact 210 is correctly coupled with at least one corresponding charging element 220 to charge the rechargeable power source 180, wherein if a correct connection is detected, the transfer of energy to the rechargeable power source 180 is enabled by the charging station 50, and if a correct coupling is not detected, the charging station 50 does not allow the transfer of energy to the rechargeable power source 180. Furthermore, the arrangement of the remote control device 32 and the charging station 50 is configured such that the second presence contact 222 indicates the removal of the remote control device 32 from the charging station 50, which stops the transfer of energy to the rechargeable energy source 180 of the charging station 50, before at least one charging contact 210 is disconnected from the corresponding charging element 220. Therefore, the transfer of energy from the charging station 50 to the rechargeable energy source 180 ceases before at least one charging contact 210 is disconnected from the corresponding charging element 220. This can be achieved, for example, by adjusting the heights of the charging elements 220 and the second presence contact 222 as shown in the figure.8A, where the 220 load elements are pushed down into their respective 220A element housings before the second presence contact 222 engages, the first presence contact 212, as the remote control device 32 is inserted into the load station 50. Figure 15 is a functional block diagram of the parts 450 of the remote control device 32 that relate to recharging the rechargeable power source 180. Other parts of the remote control device 32, such as those related to mechanical actuators, are not shown in Figure 15. As mentioned earlier, the remote control device 32 may include one or more charging contacts 210 configured to engage a corresponding charging element. In some embodiments, the charging elements may be the charging elements 220 of the charging station 50. In other embodiments, the charging elements may be those of an adapter that connects to a power source to recharge the rechargeable power source 180. The remote control device 32 may include a protection circuit 452 that limits electrical parameters such as voltage and / or current to within expected operating ranges. The charge controller and disconnect circuit 454 may monitor the voltage received from the protection circuit 452, as well as monitor the current charging status of the rechargeable power source 180, to determine when to stop charging it. For example, in one exemplary configuration, when the charge on the rechargeable power source 180 reaches 3V, the charge controller and disconnect circuit 454 may operate to stop further charging. The charge controller and disconnect circuit 454 may include temperature sensing capabilities or be connected to a temperature sensor so that the rechargeable power source 180 can be charged (or discharged) to different charge levels.In some forms,. MA.a.ZUZIW 1 / 03 The rechargeable power source 180 is discharged to a high-temperature state of charge, for example, a sub-full state of charge, if a detected temperature is determined to be above a predetermined setpoint temperature. In one exemplary aspect of the invention, the detected temperature is an ambient temperature. In an alternative aspect, the detected temperature is the temperature of a battery. In some embodiments, the rechargeable power source 180 is charged in the charging station 50 to a predetermined charge level below 100% if the detected temperature is determined to be above a predetermined temperature threshold. This can help prevent damage to or degradation of the rechargeable power source 180. As shown in FIG. 15, the remote control device 32 may include the wireless communication system 456, such as a BLE radio, which can communicate with the BLE radio 402 of the charging station 50 via a BLE connection. The wireless communication system 456 and / or the BLE radio 402 of the charging station 50 may be configured, for example, to enter a low-power mode when the remote control device 32 is paired with the vehicle 10 and / or the rechargeable power source 180 of the remote control device 32 is being charged at the charging station 50, for example, to ensure that only a remote control device 32 that is within a minimum distance, for example, less than 12.7 cm (five inches) or less than 7.62 cm (three inches) corresponding to the signal strength of the communications received from remote control device 32, from charging station 50 is recognized as the remote control device 32 with which to pair. In addition, if the BLE 402 radio of charging station 50 identifies two or more remote control devices 32 available for pairing and cannot determine which is the correct one for pairing, charging station 50 may not pair with any of the available remote control devices 32 and may require the operator to repeat the pairing process. To associate / pair a remote control device with a vehicle Figures 16 to 18 illustrate details of example pairing processes according to aspects of the invention. The remote control device 32 and vehicle 10 described above will be used to describe the pairing processes in Figures 16 to 18, but it is understood that other configured add-ons / styles of the remote control device and vehicle could be paired according to the invention. With reference to FIG. 16, method 500 begins when the vehicle operator retrieves a remote control device 32 in 502. If the remote control device 32 is a handheld device as in the modes of FIGS. 4 to 8 and 9 to 10, the operator also positions the remote control device 32, for example, by securing the fastening strap 190 to the operator's fingers. The vehicle operator then initiates a power-on sequence to enable the operation of vehicle 10; that is, the operator starts vehicle 10 in 504. Upon starting vehicle 10, the operator may be prompted to provide login information to vehicle 10. This information may be provided, for example, by entering a personal identification number (PIN) on a control panel of vehicle 10, using a key fob to provide the login ID to vehicle 10, or the operator's PIN may be encoded in a memory device, such as a radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip that is integrated into the remote control device 32. The operator then initiates a pairing operation with vehicle 10 at 506, and the pairing system 34 subsequently pairs the remote control device 32 used by the operator with vehicle 10 at 508. Details of two exemplary pairing operations will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 17 and 18. Once paired, system 8 can provide a visual indication such as, for example, displaying a message on vehicle 10, lighting up LED 424 in a predetermined color, making an audible or visual row, etc., indicating that pairing is complete. According to one aspect of the invention, the remote control device 32 can be unpaired from the vehicle 10 by turning off the vehicle 10. Other example methods for unpairing the remote control device 32 from the vehicle 10 are described below in exemplary use cases. The operation of two example pairing systems 34 is described in relation to FIGS. 17 and 18, respectively, which are flowcharts of example methods 550 and 600 for pairing a vehicle 10 and a remote control device 32 using a pairing system 34 that is part of the charging station 50 on board the vehicle 10. The descriptions of methods 550 and 600 in FIGS. 17 and 18 begin when the remote control device 32 is inserted into the charging station 50, corresponding to step 506 of FIG. 16. With reference to FIG. 17 and method 550, in 552, when the second presence contact 222 connects with the first presence contact 212 when the remote control device 32 is inserted into the charging station 50, the BLE radio 402 of the charging station 50 is enabled to begin scanning for or listening to nearby BLE transmissions. As discussed above, connecting the second presence contact 222 with the first presence contact 212 can also enable the current limiter 406 so that vehicle power 10 can be supplied to the charging contacts 210 from the charging elements 220, which will recharge the rechargeable power source 180 of the remote control device 32. Consequently, pairing and charging operations are initiated by simply docking the remote control device 32 with the charging station 50.Instead of using BLE transmissions to pair the remote control device 32 with the vehicle controller 103, the remote control device 32 can be paired with the vehicle controller 103 by direct physical contact between, for example, the charging contacts 210 and the charging elements 220. Alternatively, dedicated pairing contacts (not shown) can be provided on the remote control device 32 and the vehicle 10, for example, at the charging station 50, to pair the remote control device 32 with the vehicle controller 103 by direct physical contact. Such pairing contacts on the remote control device 32 and the vehicle 10 could be coupled to each other simultaneously with the coupling of the charging contacts 210 to the charging elements 220, so that the pairing process could occur at the same time as the charging process. MA / a / ZUZJ / UU 1 / 03 pairing could only be used to perform message exchanges for pairing operations. According to one aspect of the invention, where the pairing process is performed wirelessly, at 554, the remote control device 32 detects that there is a voltage present at its load contacts 210 and begins to transmit BLE advertisements via the wireless transmitter 178 indicating that the remote control device 32 is available to communicate with nearby devices. In response, the BLE radio 402 at charging station 50 can receive one of the transmitted advertisements and, on 556, issue a BLE scan request directed to the specific remote control device 32 associated with the received advertisement. If the BLE radio 402 at charging station 50 identifies two or more remote control devices 32 available for pairing—that is, when receiving BLE advertisements from two or more remote control devices 32 while scanning or listening for nearby BLE transmissions—the vehicle 10 may not pair with any of the available remote control devices 32 and may require the operator to repeat the pairing process by removing the remote control device 32 from charging station 50 and then reinserting the remote control device 32 into charging station 50. At 558, the remote control device 32 responds to the scan request with a unique identification code, which is received by the BLE radio 402. At 560, vehicle 10 checks the code and instructs the BLE radio 402 to open a BLE connection and begin communicating with the remote control device 32. In 562, once a communication session is established between the remote control device 32 and the charging station 50, a predetermined pairing algorithm can be implemented between the remote control device 32 and the charging station 50 to complete the pairing operation in 564. Once paired, the vehicle 10 communicates wirelessly with the remote control device 32, and the controller 103 of the vehicle 10 is able to implement wireless requests received from the remote control device 32. In the example flowchart described above with respect to FIG. 17, a similar method can be used to pair the remote control device 32 with the vehicle 10 using, for example, one or more of the charging elements 220 of the charging station 50 and the charging contacts 210 of the remote control device 32, or the dedicated pairing contacts mentioned above. Instead of messages being transmitted and received via wireless / BLE radios, the same or equivalent message types can be communicated through the elements / contacts 220 / 210 using various protocols. The messages can be modulated and transmitted through one of the elements / contacts 220 / 210 that provides the voltage. In either case, the pairing of the vehicle 10 and the remote control device 32 can occur simultaneously with the charging of the rechargeable power source 180 of the remote control device 32. MA.a.ZUZTW 1 / 03 With reference to FIG. 18 and method 600, in 602, when the second presence contact 222 is connected to the first presence contact 212 when the remote control device 32 is inserted into the charging station 50, the BLE radio 402 of the charging station 50 is enabled with a predetermined timeout, for example, 1500 ms, to begin scanning for or listening to nearby BLE transmissions from remote control devices 32. As discussed above, connecting the second presence contact 222 to the first presence contact 212 can also enable the current limiter 406 so that vehicle power 10 can be supplied to the charging contacts 210 from the charging elements 220, which will cause the rechargeable power source 180 of the remote control device 32 to recharge.Consequently, pairing and charging operations are initiated simply by docking the remote control device 32 with the charging station 50, such that a component of the remote control device 32 makes physical contact with an element of the charging station 50. Instead of using BLE transmissions to pair the remote control device 32 with the vehicle controller 103, the remote control device 32 can be paired with the vehicle controller 103 by direct physical contact between, for example, the charging contacts 210 and the charging elements 220. Alternatively, dedicated pairing contacts (not shown) can be provided on the remote control device 32 and the vehicle 10, for example, on the charging station 50, to pair the remote control device 32 with the vehicle controller 103 by direct physical contact.These pairing contacts on the remote control device 32 and the vehicle 10 could be coupled simultaneously with the coupling of the charging contacts 210 to the charging elements 220, so that the pairing process could occur at the same time as the charging process. These pairing contacts could be used solely for exchanging messages for pairing operations. In 604, the signal strength of BLE transmissions between the wireless transmitter 178 and the BLE radio 402 may decrease during the pairing process to help prevent other nearby vehicles 10 from receiving BLE transmissions from the remote control device 32. According to one aspect of the invention, where the pairing process is performed wirelessly, in 606, the remote control device 32 detects that there is a voltage present at its charging contacts 210 and begins to transmit BLE advertisements via the wireless transmitter 178 at a predetermined rate, for example, a rate of 20ms with a predetermined hold time, for example, a hold time of 2000ms, indicating that the remote control device 32 is available to communicate with nearby vehicles 10.If the BLE 402 radio of the charging station 50 identifies two or more remote control devices 32 available for pairing, i.e., upon receiving BLE advertisements from two or more remote control devices 32 while scanning or listening for nearby BLE transmissions, the vehicle 10 may not pair with any of the available remote control devices 32 and may require the operator to repeat the pairing process by removing the remote control device 32 from the charging station 50 and then reinserting the remote control device 32 into the charging station 50. The charging station 50 can provide power to charge the rechargeable power source 180 up to, for example, 1000ms before the BLE advertisements are sent from the wireless transmitter 178. Charging the rechargeable power source 180 by the charging station 50 will be discussed in detail below. In response to receiving BLE advertisements from wireless transmitter 178, the BLE radio 402 of charging station 50 can, at 608, issue a BLE scan request. At 610, remote control device 32 receives the scan request from BLE radio 402 and uses the address from BLE radio 402 to create a unique identification code, which remote control device 32 sends back to BLE radio 402 at 612. In step 614, vehicle 10 verifies the code and instructs BLE radio 402 to open a BLE connection and begin communicating with remote control device 32. It should be noted that if vehicle 10 receives more than one valid ID code during step 614, for example, if vehicle 10 receives ID codes from two different remote control devices 32, pairing will fail, vehicle 10 may issue an error message or other warning, and the operator will need to repeat the pairing process by removing remote control device 32 from charging station 50 and then reinserting it into the station. At 616, once a communication session is established between the remote control device 32 and the charging station 50, the pairing operation can be completed and the signal strength of the BLE transmissions between the wireless transmitter 178 and the BLE radio 402 can be increased back to their normal levels at 618. The operator may be asked to perform an action on 620 as a test to confirm that the remote control device 32 is working and can communicate with the charging station 50, such as by pressing a sequence of buttons on the remote control device 32, for example, by pressing the start button 197B and the brake button 197C simultaneously. Once paired, vehicle 10 communicates wirelessly with remote control device 32, and the controller 103 of vehicle 10 is able to implement wireless requests received from remote control device 32. According to aspects of the invention, a pairing period (which is a period of time taken to establish communication between the remote control device 32 and the vehicle 10 and begins with steps 552 / 602 and ends with steps 564 / 616) may be less than the charging period (which is the time taken to charge the rechargeable power source 180 to a desired charging state at the charging station 50), wherein the charging of the rechargeable power source 180 will be discussed below in relation to FIGS. 21 and 22. Referring to FIG. 19, according to a further aspect of the invention, after performing work operations, the vehicle operator may need to temporarily leave the vehicle 10, for example, to take a break. An exemplary method 700 for switching off, restarting, and re-pairing the vehicle 10 with the remote control device 32 used by the operator is illustrated. The operator switches off the vehicle 10 in 702, to take a break, etc. After a while, MA.a.ZUZJ.W 1 / 03 The vehicle operator reverses vehicle 10. During this pause time, the remote control device 32 can remain paired with vehicle 10 for up to a predefined period of time. This maintained pairing state between vehicle 10 and remote control device 32 can be indicated, for example, on a touch screen (not shown) provided in vehicle 10, by illuminating LED 424 in a predetermined color or pattern, etc. Therefore, if the operator restarts vehicle 10 before the predefined time period in 704 expires, vehicle 10 can detect remote control device 32 in 706, where remote control device 32 remains paired with vehicle 10. In this respect, the operator may or may not have to perform some kind of action in 708, such as pressing a button on vehicle 10, for example, on the charging station 50, on the touch screen, etc., or press a button sequence on the remote control device 32. A successful operator action in 708 results in confirmation of pairing between remote control device 32 and vehicle 10 in 710. A visual row can be displayed on the indicator (LED 424) to indicate pairing, for example, by illuminating LED 424 in the second color indicated above. Alternatively, according to this aspect of the invention, if the operator switches the vehicle 10 back on after the predefined time period in 712 has expired, the operator may be required to re-pair the remote control device 32 with the vehicle 10 as with the initial pairing, for example, by inserting the remote control device 32 into the charging station 50 in 714. With reference to FIG. 20, an example method 800 for re-establishing communication between the remote control device 32 and the vehicle 10 after a period of no vehicle-related activity is illustrated. In 802, the controller 103 of the vehicle 10 detects that no vehicle-related activity has been performed for a specified period of time after communication between the remote control device 32 and the vehicle 10 has been established. Examples of vehicle-related activities include driving the vehicle 10 (either manually using the hand controls at the operator station 20, other hand controls, for example, on the side of the vehicle 10, or by means of the remote control device 32), standing on the platform 21, moving or placing an item in the load-handling assembly 12, etc.In 804, if no vehicle-related activity takes place for more than a predetermined initial amount of time after communication is established between remote control device 32 and vehicle 10, the communication between remote control device 32 and vehicle 10 terminates and must be reset using pairing system 34 in 806, i.e., by inserting remote control device 32 into charging station 50 in vehicle 10. This terminated pairing state between vehicle 10 and remote control device 32 can be indicated, for example, on the touch screen by illuminating LED 424 in a predetermined color, pattern, etc. In 808, if no vehicle-related activity takes place for less than a predetermined second amount of time after communication is established between the MA.a.ZUZLW 1 / 03 Remote control device 32 and vehicle 10, if the second preset time amount is equal to or less than the first preset time amount, communication between remote control device 32 and vehicle 10 ends but can be reset without pairing system 34, for example, by performing a confirmation method using remote control device 32 in 810. The confirmation method may include, for example, the operator performing a button sequence on remote control device 32, such as pressing and holding one or more of buttons 197A-C. This pairing state between vehicle 10 and remote control device 32 may be indicated, for example, on the touch screen by illuminating LED 424 in a preset color, pattern, etc. Figure 21 is a flowchart of an example method 900 for charging a remote control device according to the principles of the present invention. In particular, the remote control device may be the same as or similar to the remote control device 32 discussed herein, and may include a wireless communication system 456 comprising a wireless transmitter 178 (e.g., capable of one-way or two-way communication), a rechargeable power source 180, and at least one control (e.g., controls 196A-C) causing the wireless transmitter 178 to wirelessly transmit a request to a controller of a material handling vehicle 10. Method 900 for charging a remote control device 32 begins at 902 by initiating contact between a component of the remote control device 32 and an element of a charging station 50, the charging station 50 being located in the vehicle 10, and then detecting the contact between the component of the remote control device and the element of the charging station. As described above, the remote control device 32 may include one or more charging contacts 210, each of which is arranged to connect with a corresponding charging element 220 of the charging station 50, such that when connected, a second presence contact 222 or a similar device engages with a corresponding first presence contact 212 to detect or sense that the charging contacts 210 and the charging elements 220 are in contact with each other.However, other components of the remote control device 32 and other elements of the charging station 50 can be used to detect / sense the start of contact. Next, at 904, a charging period begins, during which power is supplied from charging station 50 to the rechargeable power source 180. As described above, for example, the charging station 50 circuit is configured so that when contact is detected between the charging contacts 210 and the charging elements 220, power is supplied from charging station 50 to the charging contacts 210 of the remote control device 32 to charge the rechargeable power source 180. Once the rechargeable power source 180 is substantially fully charged (or charged to the desired amount less than a substantially full charge), the remote control device 32 can be removed from charging station 50. Therefore, the method in FIG. 21 continues, in 906, with the interruption of contact between the remote control device component and the charging station element, and the detection of this contact interruption. As described above, the charging contacts 210 of the remote control device 32 and the charging elements 220 of the charging station 50 are arranged so that when the two systems are disconnected, this state can be detected. An example is the second presence contact 222, which can detect when the remote control device 32 is removed from the charging station 50. Finally, upon detecting this interruption at 906, charging station 50 can interrupt the power supply from charging station 50 to rechargeable power source 180 at 908, thus ending the charging period. It is noted that the second presence contact 222 can be located on the remote control device 32, and its disconnection can result in the cessation of power supply from charging station 50 to rechargeable power source 180. The power supply from charging station 50 to rechargeable power source 180 can also be interrupted when rechargeable power source 180 is charged to the desired level (either fully charged or charged to a level less than the full charge), as described herein. Method 900 may include other optional steps shown in FIG. 21. For example, Method 900 may also include confirmation of the establishment of communication between the remote control device 32 and the vehicle 10 in 910, for example, with at least one audible or visual prompt. Method 900 may further include, while the remote control device component is in contact with the charging station element, establishing communication between the remote control device 32 and the vehicle 10 (for example, pairing) during a pairing period in 912, so that the controller 103 receives transmissions from the remote control device 32 and is able to implement wireless requests from the remote control device 32.This communication between the remote control device 32 and the vehicle 10 can be established simultaneously while the rechargeable power source 180 is charging at the charging station 50, so that the pairing period and the charging period overlap. In at least some modes, the pairing period is less than or equal to the charging period. Additionally, method 900 may include, in 914, displaying a charge status of the rechargeable power source 180 in the vehicle 10, for example, at the charging station 50, where the charge status of the rechargeable power source 180 may be displayed in the vehicle 10 both when charging the rechargeable power source 180 and during use of the remote control device 32. The charge status of the rechargeable power source 180 may be displayed, for example, by means of a series of lights, each light representing a charge status level of the rechargeable power source 180. FIG. 22 is a flowchart of another example method 950 for charging a remote control device according to the principles of the present invention, such as the remote control device 32 discussed herein, comprising a wireless communication system 456 including a wireless transmitter 178 (e.g., capable of one-way or two-way communication), a rechargeable power source 180, and at least one control (e.g., controls 196A-C) causing the wireless transmitter 178 to wirelessly transmit a request to a vehicle controller MA.a.ZUZIW 1 / 03 Material Handling 10 As used herein, the term “control,” used to describe a remote control device 32, is intended to include any structure capable of providing the desired function, including, but not limited to, buttons, switches, dials, etc. Method 950 for charging a remote control device 32 begins in 952 by initiating contact between a component of the remote control device 32 and an element of a charging station 50, the charging station 50 being located in the vehicle 10, and then detecting the contact between the component of the remote control device and the element of the charging station. As described above, the remote control device 32 may include one or more charging contacts 210, each of which is arranged to connect with a corresponding charging element 220 of the charging station 50, such that when connected, a second presence contact 222 or a similar device engages with a corresponding presence contact 212 to detect or sense that the charging contacts 210 and the charging elements 220 are in contact with each other.However, other components of the remote control device 32 and other elements of the charging station 50 can be used to detect / sense the start of contact. In 954, the current state of charge of the rechargeable power source 180 is determined. Step 954 can be performed before or after step 952, i.e., the state of charge of the rechargeable power source 180 can be communicated to the charging station 50 both when the remote control device 32 is attached to the charging station 50 and during the use of the remote control device 32 by the operator, as described in this document. Depending on the current state of charge of the rechargeable power source 180 and after performing step 952, a charging period begins in step 956, during which power is supplied from charging station 50 to the rechargeable power source 180. In one example, in step 958A, if the voltage of the rechargeable power source 180 is below a voltage threshold VT, charging station 50 charges the rechargeable power source 180 to a first higher energy level PL1. According to this example, in step 958B, if the voltage of the rechargeable power source 180 is above the voltage threshold VT, charging station 50 charges the rechargeable power source 180 to a second lower energy level PL2.The resulting charging period, in either case—that is, in step 958A or step 958B—can be approximately the same; that is, charging the rechargeable power source 180 to the desired amount from above or below the voltage threshold VT can take approximately the same amount of time. While this document only discusses two power levels, PL1 and PL2, associated with a single voltage threshold VT, additional voltage thresholds and power levels could be used, where the charging period can always be approximately the same, regardless of the charge level of the rechargeable power source 180 when it is inserted into the charging station 50. Furthermore, an equation could be used to dynamically set the power level according to the current charge state of the rechargeable power source 180. Once the charging period is complete, i.e., once the 180 rechargeable power source is charged to the desired amount, i.e., substantially fully charged or charged to an amount less than a substantially full charge state, for example, in view MA.a.ZUZJ.-W 1 / 03 of the detected temperature if that technology is present in system 8, or if less than a full charge is desired, the remote control device 32 can be removed from the charging station 50. Therefore, the method in FIG. 22 continues, at point 960, by interrupting the contact between the remote control device component and the charging station element, and by detecting the interruption of the contact between the remote control device component and the charging station element. As described above, the charging contacts 210 of the remote control device 32 and the charging elements 220 of the charging station 50 are arranged in such a way that when the two systems are disconnected, this state can be detected. An example is the second presence contact 222, which can detect when the remote control device 32 is removed from the charging station 50. Finally, upon detecting this interruption at 960, or upon charging the rechargeable power source 180 to the desired amount, the charging station 50 can stop the power supply from the charging station 50 to the rechargeable power source 180 at 962, thus ending the charging period. Method 950 may include other optional steps shown in FIG. 22. For example, Method 950 may also include confirmation of the establishment of communication between the remote control device 32 and the vehicle 10 in 964, for example, with at least one audible or visual prompt. Method 950 may further include, while the remote control device component is in contact with the charging station element, establishing communication between the remote control device 32 and the vehicle 10 (for example, pairing) during a pairing period in 966, so that the controller 103 receives transmissions from the remote control device 32 and is able to implement wireless requests from the remote control device 32.This communication between the remote control device 32 and the vehicle 10 can be established simultaneously during the charging of the rechargeable power source 180 at the charging station 50, so that the pairing period and the charging period overlap. In at least some modes, the pairing period is less than or equal to the charging period, although the pairing period can be longer than the charging period, as will be discussed in more detail below. Additionally, method 950 may include, in 968, displaying a charge status of the rechargeable power source 180 in the vehicle 10, for example, at the charging station 50, where the charge status of the rechargeable power source 180 may be displayed in the vehicle 10 both when charging the rechargeable power source 180 and during use of the remote control device 32. The charge status of the rechargeable power source 180 may be displayed, for example, by means of a series of lights, each light representing a charge status level of the rechargeable power source 180. According to one aspect of the invention, the charging period may depend on the capacity of the rechargeable power source 180, the charging rate / power level supplied by the charging station 50, and / or the charging state of the rechargeable power source 180 when it is inserted into the charging station 50. Therefore, a desired charging period could be achieved regardless of the current charging state of the rechargeable power source 180 when the remote control device 32 is MA.a.ZUZJ.W 1 / 03 places at charging station 50. For example, the current charging status of the rechargeable power source 180 can be known by the vehicle 10, for example, the charging status of the rechargeable power source 180 can be communicated to charging station 50, as described herein. Charging station 50 can be instructed, for example, by controller 103, to supply power to the rechargeable power source 180 at different rates or levels based on the charging status of the rechargeable power source 180 when the remote control device 32 is placed at charging station 50, so that the charging period is generally around the same time regardless of the charging status of the rechargeable power source 180 when the remote control device 32 is placed at charging station 50. For example, as discussed above with reference to steps 958A / B of FIG.22. If the charging state of the rechargeable power supply 180 is a lower first charging state, then a higher first energy rate / level can be supplied from charging station 50 to the rechargeable power supply 180. If the charging state of the rechargeable power supply 180 is a higher second charging state, then a lower second energy rate / level can be supplied from charging station 50 to the rechargeable power supply 180. The resulting charging period in both cases could be approximately the same, for example, within approximately 0.5 seconds of the desired charging period. Any number of charging states of the rechargeable power supply and their corresponding power rates / levels can be implemented so that the time required to charge the rechargeable power supply 180 is within the desired charging period.Additionally, the lifespan of the 180 rechargeable power source can be increased when it is charged at a lower energy level. Therefore, an additional advantage of a charging schedule consistent with the present invention is that the 180 rechargeable power source is sometimes charged at a lower energy level, for example, when its charge level upon insertion into the charger station 50 is the second highest charge level discussed earlier. Therefore, charging the 180 rechargeable power source at different energy levels as described herein can increase its lifespan, unlike charging it to a single, consistent energy level with each charge. Additionally, while the pairing period, described here as the time it takes to establish communication between the remote control device 32 and the vehicle 10, may be less than or equal to the charging period, the charging period may also be less than the pairing period. For example, it may be determined that the rechargeable power supply 180 does not need to be fully charged to operate for a desired usage period. For instance, a full charge of the rechargeable power supply 180 may provide a longer operating time than the desired usage period (e.g., an operator's shift), so the rechargeable power supply 180 does not need to be fully charged to function for the desired usage period.In this case, the charging station 50 can be programmed to charge the rechargeable power supply 180 to a sub-full charge state, which would still be sufficient for the remote control device to operate for the entire desired usage period. The time it takes to charge the rechargeable power supply 180 to this sub-full charge state may be less than the pairing period. Other situations may also occur where the charging period is shorter than the pairing period. With reference to FIG. 23, the principles of the present invention can also be implemented as a kit 1000 for adaptation to a material handling vehicle 10'. In FIG. 23, elements similar or identical to those described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 22 include the same reference number followed by a prime symbol ('). An element described with reference to FIG. 23 but not specifically shown in FIG. 23 is equivalent to the element having the same reference symbol described above, but without the prime symbol. The vehicle 10' may include a vehicle controller 103' that responds to wireless requests from an associated remote control device 32' used by an operator interacting with the vehicle 10' similar to the vehicle types 10 and remote control devices 32 described above. An example kit 1000 would include a charging station 50' in the vehicle 10', the charging station 50' for charging a rechargeable power source 180' of the remote control device 32', where the charging station 50' is electrically connected to a vehicle power source, and a receiver 102' such as a BLE radio communicatively coupled to the vehicle controller 103'. In particular, the charging station 50' is configured such that the rechargeable power source 180' is charged to a desired amount (a full charge or less than a full charge as described herein) in the charging station 50' within a desired charging period.The 1000 kit may also include a pairing system 34' to establish communication between the remote control device 32' and the vehicle 10', so that the controller 103' is able to implement wireless requests from the remote control device 32'. The pairing system 34' may, for example, be similar to the pairing system 34 and may implement the pairing algorithms detailed in FIG. 17 and / or FIG. 18. Thus, the 1000 kit may also include a pairing indicator, for example, the visual indicator 424', which confirms the establishment of communication between the remote control device 32' and the vehicle 10'.Furthermore, the pairing system 34' can be configured so that the pairing period (the time it takes to establish communication between the remote control device 32' and the vehicle 10') is less than or equal to the charging period (the time it takes to charge the rechargeable power source 180' to the desired level). The pairing period can also be longer than the charging period. The pairing system 34' can be integrated into the charging station 50' or can be a separate component. It is anticipated that communication between the remote control device 32' and the vehicle 10' will be established simultaneously during the charging of the rechargeable power source 180' at the charging station 50'; that is, the pairing period and the charging period may overlap. Furthermore, in some configurations, communication between the remote control device 32' and the vehicle 10' and the charging of the rechargeable power source 180' at the charging station 50' are initiated with a single action. MA.a.ZUZJ.W 1 / 03 For example, the individual action may comprise physically contacting a component of the remote control device, for example, one or more charging contacts 210 as described above, with an element of the charging station, for example, one or more corresponding charging elements 220 as described above. The remote control device 32' used in combination with kit 1000 may be the same as the remote control devices 32 described in this document. Therefore, a remote control device manufactured for use with a vehicle 10 that includes an integrated charging station 50 and related components could also be used with kit 1000 for use with an existing vehicle 10'. As described above with regard to the 50' charging station, the 50' charging station of kit 1000 may also include a 420' guide structure to align the 32' remote control device in the proper orientation to charge the 180' rechargeable power source. The 1000 kit may also include a configurable indicator (e.g., LED 404, light, or similar structure) for attachment to the vehicle 10 to indicate the charging status of the rechargeable power source 180. The indicator may show the charging status of the rechargeable power source 180 both when charging the rechargeable power source 180 at the charging station 50 and during use of the remote control device 32. In some configurations, the indicator comprises a series of lights, each light representing a level of the charging status of the rechargeable power source 180. The 1000 kit includes at least one charging element 220' in the charging station 50' that mates with at least one corresponding charging contact 210' of the remote control device 32'. Furthermore, at least one of the remote control devices 32' or the charging station 50' includes a presence contact 212' or 222' that detects whether at least one corresponding charging contact 210' and at least one charging element 220' are correctly mated together. If a correct connection is detected, the charging station 50' allows power transfer to the rechargeable power source 180' of the remote control device 32'; if a correct connection is not detected, power transfer to the rechargeable power source 180' is not enabled by the charging station 50'.In at least some embodiments, the remote control device 32' comprises at least two charging contacts 210' or at least four charging contacts 210' that are positioned to engage corresponding charging elements 220' at the charging station 50'. The arrangement of the remote control device 32' and the charging station 50' of kit 1000 is configured such that the presence contact 212' or 222' indicates the removal of the remote control device 32' from the charging station 50', which ceases the transfer of energy to the rechargeable power source 180' from the charging station 50', before at least one charging contact 210' is disconnected from the corresponding charging element 220'. Therefore, the transfer of energy from the charging station 50' to the rechargeable power source 180' ceases before at least one charging contact 210' is disconnected from the corresponding charging element 220'. The Kit 1000 can also utilize contactless or inductive charging, where the rechargeable power source 180' of the remote control device 32' can be charged by being in close proximity to, or on the surface of, a compatible inductive charging station (not shown). Such an inductive charging station can be located, for example, on a vehicle steering or drive control 10' so that the rechargeable power source 180' can be charged while the operator manually drives the vehicle 10' from the operator station 20'. The Kit 1000 according to this aspect of the invention can be at least partially located on the vehicle steering control or another vehicle component that facilitates inductive / contactless charging of the rechargeable power source 180'; for example, the rechargeable power source 180' can be charged by the operator gripping the steering / drive control. The 1000 kit can utilize any of the other features and / or functions of the 32' remote control device and the 50' charging station described above for FIGS. 1 to 22. It should be noted that if the 10' vehicle to be used with the 1000 kit was previously configured to interface with a wireless remote control device, it may be necessary to update the controller logic in the 103' vehicle controller for use with the 1000 kit, and a receiver that was already provided in the 10' vehicle, i.e., to receive wireless requests from a remote control device that was used with the 10' vehicle before the 1000 kit was installed in the 10' vehicle, can be switched off in place of the 102' receiver of the 1000 kit, i.e., for use with the 32' remote control device associated with the 1000 kit. With reference now to FIG. 24, a remote control device 32 can be incorporated according to one embodiment of the invention into a glove garment 1100. The use of the glove garment 1100 eliminates the need for the fastening strap 190, and the first control 196A can be provided in a finger of the glove 1100 instead of being part of the upper housing 174, but the remaining components of the remote control device 32 illustrated in FIG. 24 can be the same as or similar to the remote control device 32 of FIGS. 4 to 7, which includes a form of the upper housing portion 174 that engages with the charging station 50 in the vehicle 10.Therefore, the charging station 50 in the vehicle 10 can be the same as the charging station 50 described above, i.e., since the coupling part of the charging station of the upper housing 174 of the remote control device 32 incorporated in the glove garment 1100 can have the same dimensions as the application part of the charging station of the upper housing 174 of the remote control device 32 in the modality of FIGS. 4 to 7, the same charging station 50 could be used with the finger-mounted remote control device 32 of FIGS. 4 to 7, or the remote control device 32 incorporated in the glove garment 1100 of FIG. 24. If the remote control device 32 incorporated into the glove garment 1100 were used in combination with the inductive charging technology described herein, the inductive charging structures could be incorporated, for example, in the palm of the glove garment 1100. Such charging structures in the glove garment 1100 could be used with charging elements incorporated, for example, in a steering control of a vehicle paired with the remote control device 32, in which MA / a / ZUZJ / UU 1 / 03 In this case, a rechargeable power source of the remote control device 32 could be charged while the operator is holding the steering control. According to additional aspects of the present invention, there may be conditions and / or events that cause the vehicle 10 to become unpaired from the remote control device 32, in which case a complete pairing process using the pairing system 34, as described herein, may be required to re-pair the vehicle 10 with the remote control device 32. There may be other conditions or events that cause the vehicle 10 to become unpaired from the remote control device 32, in which case something other than a complete pairing process using the pairing system 34, as described herein, may be required to re-pair the vehicle 10 with the remote control device 32. Several exemplary use cases with respect to unpairing and re-pairing will be described below. A first exemplary use case can occur by turning off vehicle 10. According to this first use case, the remote control device 32 is unpaired from the controller 103 and requires a full pairing process using the pairing system 34, as described here, to re-pair vehicle 10 with the remote control device 32. According to this first exemplary use case, a full pairing process using the pairing system 34 may be required to re-pair the remote control device 32 with vehicle 10 whenever vehicle 10 is turned off. A second exemplary use case might be substantially as described above with reference to FIG. 19, where the vehicle operator temporarily leaves vehicle 10, for example, to take a break. The details of this second exemplary use case are discussed above with reference to FIG. 17 and will not be repeated here. The third and fourth exemplary use cases can occur if no vehicle-related activity takes place for more than a predetermined first time period after communication is established between remote control device 32 and vehicle 10 (third use case), or if no vehicle-related activity takes place, but the activity occurs for less than a predetermined second time period after communication is established between remote control device 32 and vehicle 10 (fourth use case). The details of these third and fourth exemplary use cases are discussed above with reference to Figure 20 and will not be repeated. A number of exemplary use cases can arise involving multiple remote control devices 32 and / or multiple vehicles 10. In a fifth exemplary use case, suppose that a first remote control device 32 is currently paired with a first vehicle 10, and a second remote control device 32 is currently paired with a second vehicle 10. In this fifth use case, the first remote control device 32 is inserted into the charging station 50 of the second vehicle 10. Under this circumstance, the charging station 50 of the second vehicle 10 can charge the rechargeable power source 180 of the first remote control device 32, the first MA.a.ZUZ J / UU1 / 03 remote control device 32 can be unpaired from the first vehicle 10 and the second remote control device 32 can be unpaired from the second vehicle 10. The first remote control device 32 will not pair with the second vehicle 10 in the fifth use case. In a sixth exemplary use case, and with reference to FIG. 24, suppose that a remote control device 32 is currently paired with a first vehicle 10A such that the remote control device 32 communicates wirelessly with the first vehicle 10A, and a second vehicle 10B is not currently paired with a remote control device. In this sixth use case, the remote control device 32 is paired with the second vehicle 10B by means of a pairing process, for example, by inserting the remote control device 32 into the charging station 50 of the second vehicle 10B. Using this pairing process, the charging station 50 of the second vehicle 10B can charge the rechargeable power source 180 of the remote control device 32, and the remote control device 32 can then be paired with the second vehicle 10B so that the remote control device communicates wirelessly with the second vehicle 10B.This pairing process can also cause the remote control device to disconnect from the first vehicle (10A), so the remote control device no longer communicates wirelessly with the first vehicle (10A). Once the remote control device (32) is paired with the second vehicle (10B) and disconnected from the first vehicle (10A), the second vehicle (10B) can respond to remote requests from the remote control device (32), while the first vehicle (10A) can no longer respond to remote requests from the remote control device (32). As described above, the wireless communication system 456 of the remote control device 32 and / or the BLE radio 402 of the charging station 50 can be configured, for example, to enter a low power mode when the remote control device 32 is paired with the second vehicle 10B and / or the rechargeable power source 180 of the remote control device 32 is being charged at the charging station 50, for example, to ensure that only a remote control device 32 that is within a minimum distance, corresponding to the signal strength of the communications received from the remote control device 32, from the charging station 50 is recognized as the remote control device 32 to pair with the second vehicle 10B. According to the sixth exemplary use case, prior to the pairing process, the second vehicle 10B can be dispatched, for example, by a Warehouse Management System (WMS) in communication with the second vehicle 10B, to a designated location, such as the operator's location, the location of the first vehicle 10A, the end of an aisle where the operator and / or the first vehicle 10A are located, a designated waiting area, etc. The second vehicle 10B can be an unloaded vehicle, meaning it is free of cargo and therefore ready to transport items to be picked by the operator.The Warehouse Management System (WMS) can instruct the second vehicle, 10B, to move to the designated location. For example, this occurs when the first vehicle, 10A, is loaded with a desired quantity of selected items and is ready to be dispatched to a different location—a location distinct from the current location of vehicle 10, such as an LD loading dock or another location where the picked items will be delivered. The operator can also request that the second vehicle, 10B, be dispatched to the designated location, for example, using a control on the first vehicle, 10A, via a headset, etc.Once the second 10B vehicle is paired with the remote control device 32, the second 10B vehicle can no longer implement commands from the WMS Warehouse Management System, so the second 10B vehicle will only implement wireless commands from the remote control device 32 with which it is paired. Once the remote control device 32 is unlinked from the first vehicle 10A, the warehouse management system (WMS) can send instructions to the first vehicle 10A to move to the loading platform LD and / or another location, such as a vehicle charging station (not shown). Using this sixth exemplary use case, an operator can quickly switch between vehicles 10A and 10B, resulting in increased productivity and work efficiency. In a seventh exemplary use case, suppose that a first remote control device 32 is currently paired with a vehicle 10, and a second remote control device 32 is not paired with a vehicle. In this seventh use case, the second remote control device 32 is inserted into the charging station 50 of vehicle 10. Under this circumstance, the charging station 50 of vehicle 10 can charge the rechargeable power source 180 of the second remote control device 32, the first remote control device 32 can be unpaired from vehicle 10, and the second remote control device 32 cannot be paired with vehicle 10. In an eighth exemplary use case, remote control device 32 moves out of range of vehicle 10, i.e., such that wireless transmitter 178 can no longer communicate with receiver 102 for a predetermined period of time. According to this eighth use case, remote control device 32 can be unpaired from vehicle 10. Also according to this eighth use case, if remote control device 32 returns to range of vehicle 10 after a predetermined period of time, it may be necessary to power down and restart vehicle 10 to pair it with remote control device 32 using pairing system 34, including pairing with the previously paired remote control device 32 or a different remote control device 32.If remote control device 32 returns to vehicle 10's range within the predetermined time period, it may not be necessary to power down and restart vehicle 10 to pair it with the previously paired remote control device 32. For example, the remote control previously paired with device 32 can be re-paired with vehicle 10 by inserting remote control device 32 into the vehicle's charging station 50. Pairing vehicle 10 with a different remote control device 32 may require the vehicle to power down and restart, regardless of how long the previously paired remote control device 32 was out of range of vehicle 10. Additional exemplary use cases related to pairing and / or loading periods will now be described. In a ninth exemplary use case, a desired charging state, for example, a substantially full charging state, can be achieved from the 180 rechargeable power source by charging the source MA.a.ZUZIW 1 / 03 of rechargeable energy 180 in the charging station 50 in five seconds or less. According to this use case, the substantially full charge state of the rechargeable energy source 180 can produce a usage period of the remote control device 32 of at least eight hours. In a tenth exemplary use case, the charging station 50 varies the energy level supplied to the rechargeable power source 180 depending on the state of charge of the rechargeable power source 180 when the remote control device 32 is inserted into the charging station 50, as described herein with reference to FIG. 22. A charging period according to the tenth use case will always be about four seconds, regardless of the state of charge of the rechargeable power source 180 when the remote control device 32 is inserted into the charging station 50. A predictable charging period is thus achieved. It is observed that the type of transmissions sent by remote control device 32 to vehicle 10, for example, requests such as movement requests, can be other types of transmissions. For example, the transmissions may include location-based transmissions that inform the controller 103 of vehicle 10 where remote control device 32 is located relative to vehicle 10. This type of location transmission can be used by controller 103, for example, to track remote control device 32. Thus, vehicle 10 can follow an operator who uses, holds, or carries remote control device 32. Such a remote control device 32 could be charged by charging station 50 and synchronized with vehicle 10 as described herein. According to another aspect of the present invention, the charging of the rechargeable power source 180 by the charging station 50 can be deactivated while the vehicle 10 is in motion. This aspect of the invention may not apply to the inductive charging of the rechargeable power source 180. Furthermore, when an operator attempts to pair a remote control device 32 with a vehicle 10 that is communicating with the warehouse management system (WMS), the WMS can determine whether one or more operational checks of the remote control device have been performed within a predetermined time period, for example, within the last 12 hours. Such operational checks may include, for example, checks to ensure the operability of the remote control device 32's controls, such as the ignition and / or brake buttons 197B, 197C.If no operational checks have been performed within the predetermined time period, vehicle 10 may inform the operator that operational checks must be performed before remote control device 32 can be paired with vehicle 10. In other words, remote control device 32 can only be paired with vehicle 10 if one or more operational checks of the remote control device have been performed within the predetermined time period. These operational checks can be performed by the operator implementing the controls, for example, by pressing and holding the horn and / or brake buttons 197B and 197C. MA.a.ZUZTW 1 / 03 Additionally, when an operator attempts to pair a remote control device 32 with a vehicle 10 that is communicating with the Warehouse Management System (WMS), the WMS can determine whether the operator is authorized to operate the vehicle 10 that the operator is attempting to pair with the remote control device 32. For example, vehicles that will only be used in a specific location, such as a freezer, can only be paired with remote control devices 32 where the operator will use the vehicle in that location. As another example, operators may be restricted to operating certain vehicles. Remote control devices 32 in these situations can only be authorized to pair with such vehicles when these conditions are met. According to one aspect of the invention, the charge life of the rechargeable power source 180 during a given operating cycle can be increased by turning off or reducing the power consumption of one or more components of the remote control device 32, for example, the components of the wireless communication system 456 including the wireless transmitter 178, when it is determined that an operator is standing on platform 21 of the vehicle 10, for example, as detected by the presence sensors 22. The terms “pairing” and “synchronization” (as used herein and in the various published patents and patent applications incorporated herein by reference) are used interchangeably to describe a secure process by which a wireless remote control device and a vehicle controller identify each other as valid command and response devices. Figures 26 and 27 illustrate a charging station 1050 and a remote control device 1032 constructed in accordance with another aspect of this disclosure. Similarly, the elements in the remote control device 1032 that are generally the same as the elements in the remote control device 32 described above are identified by the same part numbers used for those elements in the remote control device 32. The charging station 1050 comprises a docking port 1052, which may include a pocket or recess formed to receive the remote control device 1032 such that the charging contacts 210 in the remote control device 1032 are aligned and coupled with the charging elements 220 in the charging station 1050 to effect the charging of a rechargeable power source 180 that is part of the remote control device 1032. It is also contemplated that the remote control device 1032 can also interact with the docking port 1052 to allow charging of the rechargeable power source 180 via a contactless charging operation, e.g., inductive charging. The charging station 1050 may comprise one or more visual indicators that convey information to an operator, which information may comprise one or more of: a charging status of the rechargeable power source 180 when the remote control device 1032 is attached to the charging station 1050, a charging status of the rechargeable power source 180 when the remote control device 1032 is removed from the charging station 1050, a pairing status between the MA.a.ZUZJ.W 1 / 03 portable remote control device 1032 and vehicle controller 103, and / or that the remote control device 1032 is physically connected to the charging station 1050. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 26 and 27, a first visual indicator 1060 and a second visual indicator 1070 are provided on the charging station 1050. The first visual indicator 1060 may comprise one or more lights, such as LEDs. The first visual indicator 1060 may be provided near the docking port 1052 defined within the charging station 1050, as shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, the docking port 1052 of which, as indicated above, comprises a pocket or recess shaped to receive the remote control device 1032. A graphic 1034 may be provided on the remote control device 1032 adjacent to a scroll button 197A also provided on the remote control device 1032, see FIG.26, whose scroll button 197A can cause a wireless transmitter 178 to become part of the remote control device 1032 to wirelessly transmit a request for a vehicle 10 to move across the ground surface. The first visual indicator 1060 can have the shape corresponding to the graphic 1034 provided on the remote control device 1032 to assist the user in positioning and connecting the remote control device 1032 to the docking port 1052 of the charging station 1050. In the illustrated mode, the graphic 1034 provided on the remote control device 1032 has the shape of an upward-facing isosceles triangle when the remote control device 1032 is docked to the charging station 1050, but it could comprise any other geometric shape, image, cone, etc.Also in the illustrated version, the first visual indicator 1060 is generally in the form of a downward-pointing isosceles triangle, but could comprise any other geometric shape, image, cone, etc. The downward-pointing triangle-shaped first visual indicator 1060 provides the user with an indication that the remote control device 1032 should be positioned relative to the docking port 1052 so that the upward-pointing triangle 1034 on the remote control device 1032 is positioned next to the first visual indicator 1060 to dock with or reflect the first visual indicator 1060. The second visual indicator 1070 can be positioned near the first visual indicator 1070, such as just above the first visual indicator 1060, as shown in Figures 26 and 27. The second visual indicator 1070 can be defined by a plurality of linearly arranged lights, such as LEDs, which can be activated individually and in series. The lights of the second visual indicator 1070 can be of a different color than one or more lights of the first visual indicator 1060. When a vehicle 10 comprising the charging station 1050 is switched on, i.e., changed from an OFF state to an ON state, the first visual indicator 1060 may be activated and, preferably, flashes on and off to provide a visual display related to the insertion of the handheld remote control device 1032 into the docking port 1052, while the second visual indicator 1070 remains OFF, see FIG. 28A. With the first visual indicator 1060 activated, i.e., pulsed on and off, and the second visual indicator 1070 OFF, this indicates to an operator that the charging station 1050 is enabled and functional and needs to dock the remote control device 1032 to the docking port 1052 of the charging station 1050 to effect pairing and charging. If the first visual indicator 1060 is not activated, this may indicate that the charging station 1050 is not enabled.Therefore, the first visual indicator 1060 and the second visual indicator 1070 can be configured to activate independently of each other so that the first visual indicator 1060 can be activated while the second visual indicator 1070 is not activated. Once the remote control device 1032 has been physically connected to the docking port 1052 of the charging station 1050, the first visual indicator 1060 can be deactivated (turned off), and at least one of the lights defining the second visual indicator 1070 can be activated to communicate to the operator that the remote control device 1032 has been physically connected to the docking port 1052 (see Figure 28B). Once the remote control device 1032 has been docked, it will attempt to pair with the vehicle controller 103, and the rechargeable power source 180 of the remote control device 1032 will begin to be charged by the charging station 1050. The lights defining the second visual indicator 1070 can be activated sequentially, from left to right, as shown in the figures.26, 27, and 28B indicate the charging status of the power supply 180 or the charging status of the rechargeable power supply 180 when coupled to the charging station 1050. Once the rechargeable power supply 180 is fully charged, all the lights that define the second indicator 1070 may illuminate (see Figure 28C). If the rechargeable power supply 180 cannot be charged, the first visual display 1060 may flash or blink intermittently to provide a visual indication of an error, while the second visual display 1070 turns off (see Figure 28I). The error may be related to a faulty rechargeable power supply 180, a faulty charging station 1050, or both.The rate at which the first visual indicator 1060 lights up and turns off to indicate an error may vary in frequency compared to the rate at which the first visual indicator 1060 lights up and turns off when vehicle 10 is on. As previously stated, once the rechargeable power source 180 is fully charged, all the lights on the second visual indicator 1070 can be activated. All the lights on the second visual indicator 1070 can also be pressed to provide the operator with a flashing display as a signal to perform an action. This serves as a test to confirm that the remote control device 1032 is functioning and can communicate with vehicle 10, i.e., that the pairing has been successful. The remote control device 1032 may further include a horn button 197B and a brake button 197C, similar to the horn and brake buttons 197B and 197C provided on remote control device 32 (see Figure 4).The test action to confirm that the remote control device 32 is functional and can communicate with the vehicle may involve pressing the start button 197B to determine if a horn in the vehicle 10 is activated and / or pressing the brake button 197C to determine if the vehicle's brakes are applied. Once the test has been successfully completed, all the lights on the second visual indicator 1070 may be continuously illuminated to define a steady-state display. Therefore, the second visual indicator 1070 may display a flashing display, a steady-state display, or a display where fewer than one light is illuminated (i.e., a partially filled display), depending on the information to be transmitted to the operator / user.If the test is not completed successfully, the first visual indicator 1060 may flash or blink intermittently to indicate an error, while the second visual indicator 1070 turns off (see Figure 28I). The error may occur because the pairing between the remote control device 1032 and the vehicle controller 103 is unsuccessful. The frequency at which the first visual indicator 1060 flashes or blinks to indicate that the test was not completed successfully may vary, starting from when the first visual indicator 1060 blinks when the vehicle 10 is switched on. As previously stated, after the vehicle is switched OFF and ON, the rechargeable power supply 180 is successfully fully charged and the test is successfully completed. All lights on the second visual indicator 1070 will illuminate continuously, indicating a stable state. If, after the rechargeable power supply 180 has successfully fully charged and the test is successfully completed, the operation of the vehicle 10 and the remote control device 1032 causes the rechargeable power supply 180 to consume some of its charge, the operator should reconnect the remote control device 1032 to the docking port 1052 to charge it before the vehicle is switched OFF. After charging, the second visual indicator 1070 may not pulse to indicate to the operator that the test should be performed, even though the rechargeable power supply 180 may have reached a full charge again.Because vehicle 10 has not been turned OFF and ON again since the last successful test, the second visual indicator 1070 may not pulse to indicate to the operator to perform the test again, but instead remain on its steady-state display indicating that the rechargeable power supply 180 is fully charged. Once the rechargeable power source 180 is fully charged and the test has been successfully completed, indicating successful pairing, the first visual indicator 1060 may remain OFF and all lights on the second visual indicator 1070 may remain ON to define a steady-state display. When the first and second visual indicators 1060 and 1070 are in these states (see Figure 28E), this indicates to the operator that a pairing state between the remote control device 1032 and the vehicle controller 103 is positive and active, and the vehicle 10 can be operated via the remote control device 1032.During the use of the remote control device 1032 to operate the vehicle 10, the rechargeable power source 180 will lose charge over time, which will be indicated by the second visual indicator 1070. This means that the lights extending from right to left, as seen in Figures 26, 27, and 28F, will be deactivated or OFF, indicating the decreasing charge level of the power source 180 when the remote control device 1032 is not connected to the charging station 1050. When the charge is low, only one light of the second visual indicator 1070 may be activated, and the first visual indicator 1060 may be ON to provide a steady-state display indicating to the operator that the power source 180 needs charging (see Figure 28G). MA.a.ZUZLW 1 / 03 Therefore, the first visual indicator 1060 can be set to a flashing display (see FIGS. 28A and 281) or a steady-state display (see FIG. 28G). It is also noted that the first and second visual indicators 1060 and 1070, when activated as illustrated in FIG. 28G, both provide steady-state displays. When the charge of the rechargeable power source 180 is depleted, the second visual indicator 1070 can be turned OFF and the first visual indicator 1060 can be pressed to indicate to the operator that the power source 180 needs to be charged (see FIG. 28H). As noted previously, the rate at which the first visual indicator 1060 flashes on and off to indicate an error may differ from the rate at which it flashes when the vehicle 10 is in motion. The error may, for example, be related to a problem with the charging station 1050, preventing it from charging the remote control device 1032. Alternatively, the error may be related to a problem with the remote control device 1032 or its power supply 180, preventing it from receiving a charge from the charging station 1050. Furthermore, the error may involve both the charging station 1050 and the remote control device 1032, resulting in communication messages between the two devices that are not being received by the intended recipient. As noted, the second visual indicator 1070, when activated, can provide either a flashing display, as shown in the example in FIG. 28D, which can prompt an operator to take action, or a steady-state display, as shown in the example in FIG. 28E, which can indicate to an operator that the remote control device 1032 is fully ready for use. Also, when the first visual indicator 1060 and the second visual indicator 1070 are activated at the same time, the first visual indicator 1060 and the second visual indicator 1070 can provide respective steady-state displays as shown in the example in FIG. 28G, which can indicate that the rechargeable power source 180 has a low charge. In the example in FIG. 28A, the first visual indicator 1060 can pulse as a way of defining a visual display related to the insertion of the portable remote control device 1032 into the charging station 1050. As previously stated, the example in FIG. 28I includes the first visual indicator flashing to provide a display indicating the occurrence of an error. This is only one example, and more generally, at least one embodiment of the present description contemplates that the first visual indicator 1060 or the second visual indicator 1070 may, either individually or in combination, provide a display related to a charging error occurring with the charging station 1050 or the rechargeable power source 108. As indicated above, the example in FIG. 28I includes the first visual indicator 1060 flashing to provide a display indicating the occurrence of an error. This is only one example, and more generally, at least one embodiment of the present description contemplates that the first visual indicator 1060 or the second visual indicator 1070 may, either individually or in MA / a / ZUZJ / UU 1 / 03 combination with each other, provide a display related to a pairing error that occurs between the handheld remote control device 1032 and the vehicle 10. As explained above, the term “pairing” (as used herein) describes a secure process by which the wireless remote control device 1032 and the vehicle controller 103 identify each other as valid command and response devices. A pairing error can occur when the two devices initially attempt to pair and fail, or a pairing error can occur after successful pairing, so that the pairing is interrupted or lost in some way. As previously stated, the example in FIG. 28I includes the first visual indicator 1060 flashing to provide a display indicating the occurrence of an error. This is only one example, and more generally, at least one embodiment of the present description contemplates that the first visual indicator 1060 or the second visual indicator 1070 can, either individually or in combination, provide a display related to a communication error occurring between the handheld remote control device 1032 and the controller 103. Once paired, the remote control device 1032 and the controller 103 act as senders and receivers of messages that pass between them according to a predetermined communication protocol. Communication errors can include, for example, when one of the devices does not receive an expected message. As described above in at least one embodiment according to this description, with reference to FIG. 17 and method 550, in 552, when the second presence contact 222 is coupled by the first presence contact 212 as the remote control device 32 is inserted into the charging station 50, the BLE radio 402 of the charging station 50 is enabled to begin scanning for or listening to nearby BLE transmissions. As discussed above, connecting the second presence contact 222 with the first presence contact 212 can also enable the current limiter 406 so that vehicle power 10 can be supplied to the charging contacts 210 from the charging elements 220, which will recharge the rechargeable power source 180 of the remote control device 32.Consequently, pairing and charging operations can be initiated by simply docking the remote control device 32 with the charging station 50. Instead of using BLE transmissions to pair the remote control device 32 with the vehicle controller 103, the remote control device 32 can be paired with the vehicle controller 103 by direct physical contact between, for example, the charging contacts 210 and the charging elements 220. Alternatively, dedicated pairing contacts (not shown) can be provided on the remote control device 32 and the vehicle 10, for example, on the charging station 50, to pair the remote control device 32 with the vehicle controller 103 by direct physical contact.These pairing contacts on the remote control device 32 and the vehicle 10 could be coupled to each other simultaneously with the coupling of the charging contacts 210 to the charging elements 220, so that the pairing process could occur at the same time as the charging process. MA.a.ZUZJ.W 1 / 03 pairing contacts could only be used to perform message exchanges for pairing operations. As previously described in at least one other embodiment according to this description, with reference to FIG. 26, once the remote control device 1032 has been physically connected to the docking port 1052 of the charging station 1050, the first visual indicator 1060 can be deactivated, i.e., OFF, and at least one of the lights defining the second visual indicator 1070 can be activated to convey to the operator that the remote control device 1032 has been physically connected to the docking port 1052, see FIG. 28B. Once the docking of the remote control device 1032 has occurred, the remote control device 1032 will attempt to pair with the vehicle controller 103 and the rechargeable power source 180 of the remote control device 1032 will begin to be charged by the charging station 1050.Once the rechargeable power source 180 is fully charged, all the lights that define the second indicator 1070 can be activated, i.e., turned on, see FIG. 28C. The remote control device 1032 may further comprise a scroll button 197A which, when pressed, causes the wireless transmitter 178 to wirelessly transmit a request for the vehicle 10 to scroll across the ground surface and is similar to the scroll button 197A provided on the remote control device 32, see FIG. 4. The remote control device 1032 may also comprise a start button 197B and a brake button 197C, similar to the start and brake buttons 197B, 197C provided on the remote control device 32, see FIG. 4.After the rechargeable power supply 180 is fully charged, all the lights on the second visual indicator 1070 can be activated by pressing them, providing the operator with a flashing display as a signal to perform a test action to confirm that the remote control device 1032 is functional and can communicate with vehicle 10, i.e., that pairing has been successful. The test action to confirm that the remote control device 1032 is working and can communicate with the vehicle may consist of pressing the move button 197A to see if vehicle 10 moves, pressing the start button 197B to determine if vehicle 10 is started, and / or pressing the brake button 197C to determine if the vehicle's brakes are engaged.Once the test has been successfully completed, all the lights on the second visual indicator 1070 can be continuously activated to define a stable state display. Buttons 197A-197C can sometimes wear out and / or fail. Therefore, the button test described above can also be performed to test these buttons 197A-197C to verify that they are functioning correctly, i.e., that they are not defective. According to the procedures described herein, the operator can test buttons 197A–197C by pressing the following sequence: the scroll button 197A, then one of the start button 197B or the brake button 197C, and then the other of the start button 197B or the brake button 197C. The example sequence just described has three distinct steps; however, this sequence can be shortened to two steps if the operator presses the start button 197B and MA.a.ZUZJ.W 1 / 03 the brake button 197C simultaneously after first pressing the shift button 197A. Buttons 197A-197C, when pressed or activated, generate signals or inputs that are received by the vehicle controller 103, which, as stated above, may comprise a processor. According to the procedures described herein, time limits may be applied to the button-pressing sequence so that, for the test to be considered successful, the operator has a limited time to press the next button (including the first button) in the sequence. If the test is deemed unsuccessful, it may be necessary to restart the sequence from the beginning. One advantage of the example button-pressing sequence described above is the flexibility it offers the operator and the reduced likelihood of falsely failing the button test due to time constraints caused by the inability to press both buttons 197B and 197C in situations such as cold storage, where operators wear thick gloves and have reduced dexterity. Furthermore, the scroll button 197A is intentionally selected to be the first button tested once the remote control device 32 or 1032 is detected as connected to the charging station 50 or 1050. Because the scroll button 197A is the primary button used during vehicle 10 operation, the example sequence can help develop the operator's muscle memory for the scroll button 197A.Another benefit of having the 197A shift button pressed first is that it helps eliminate the potential for unintentional vehicle movement. If, for example, pressing the 197A shift button was the last step in the sequence, and an operator continued pressing the 197A shift button after the button test was successfully completed, then the vehicle could move unintentionally as a result. Therefore, as just described, an example of a button test sequence or button press during the starting of vehicle 10 can be flexible and comprise pressing the scroll button 197A first and then pressing the other two buttons 197B and 197C either a) simultaneously, or b) sequentially in any order. In the example described above, the start button 197B is provided simply as an example of a button that operates a functional element, or an auxiliary function, of vehicle 10. For example, button 197B may not operate the horn, but alternatively it may operate an auxiliary function related to the vehicle 10's forks to lower or raise them, tilt them, or perform some other operation involving the forks. Additionally, the remote control device 32 or 1032, according to the embodiments of the present description, is not limited to only two buttons in addition to the scroll button 197A.For example, there may be three additional buttons on the remote control device 32 or 1032 beyond the scroll button 197A, each of which corresponds to an operating element or auxiliary function of the vehicle 10, such as the brakes, horn, forks, etc. In such an example configuration, the button test or button-pressing sequence during the starting of the vehicle 10 may be flexible and comprise pressing the scroll button 197A first and then pressing the other buttons sequentially in any order, or perhaps pressing at least two or all of the buttons simultaneously. As mentioned previously, time limits may be applied to the button-pressing sequence to determine if the button-testing procedure has been successful. Once the remote control device 32 or 1032 is first inserted into the charging station 50 or 1050, the operator may be required to press the shift button 197A within a predetermined time period, such as 1 to 5 seconds. Therefore, the vehicle controller 103 may wait to receive the input from the shift button 197A until the remote control device 32 or 1032 is docked to the charging station 50 or 1050. A subsequent or second button in the sequence (i.e., any of the auxiliary function buttons, sequentially or simultaneously) may then need to be pressed within a second predetermined time period, such as 1 to 5 seconds.It may be necessary to press a third or fourth button in the sequence within a third or fourth predetermined time period, each comprising, for example, 1 to 5 seconds. Although not required, there may be an additional predetermined time period that defines a threshold for a time limit within which the entire sequence must be completed, such as, for example, 10 to 20 seconds. These time limits may be exceeded, for example, if the operator presses one of the buttons, but that button is not operational, or if the operator is unable to press the buttons due to other environmental factors. In either case, a 1080 display in vehicle 10 (see Figure 26) may be controlled by the controller of vehicle 103 to indicate to the operator that the button-pressing test was unsuccessful, so the operator must restart the sequence from the beginning.For example, display 1080 may indicate or display “button test failed” to let the operator know that the test was unsuccessful. It may not be possible to operate the vehicle via remote control device 32 or 1032 until the button-pressing sequence, i.e., the button test, has been successfully completed. However, if the button-pressing sequence is successful, then the vehicle display 1080 can be controlled by controller 103 to inform the operator with an appropriate message or other visual display, e.g., “button test successful.” Successful completion of the button-pressing sequence confirms that remote control device 1032 is functional and can communicate with vehicle 10, i.e., that pairing has been successful. Successful completion of the button-pressing sequence also indicates that all buttons 197A–197C are operational. The button test or button-pressing sequence described above can be monitored or controlled by the vehicle's 103 controller. Therefore, in general, the modalities according to the present description relate to a method for testing the operating characteristics of a remote control device associated with a material handling vehicle. The method includes waiting for a processor (such as the vehicle controller 103) to receive a first input indicating that a first button on the remote control device has been pressed, where the first button comprises a shift button on the remote control device; and waiting for the processor to receive, after receiving MA.a.ZUZJ.-W 1 / 03 the first input, a second indicative input that at least a second button of the remote control device has been pressed, where the second button relates to a first auxiliary function of the vehicle of the remote control device. The method also includes determining, by the processor, whether a predetermined button-pressing sequence is successful or not based, at least in part, on receiving or not receiving the first and second inputs; and then actuating, by the processor, a display in the vehicle to provide a visual indication of whether the button-pressing sequence is successful or not based on that determination. Having thus described the invention of the present application in detail and with reference to its embodiments, it will be evident that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the attached claims.

Claims

1. A method for testing the operating characteristics of a remote control device associated with a material handling vehicle, comprising: waiting for a processor to receive a first input indicating that a first button of the remote control device has been pressed, wherein the first button comprises a shift button of the remote control device; waiting for the processor, after receiving the first input, to receive a second input indicating that at least a second button of the remote control device has been pressed, wherein the second button relates to a first auxiliary function of the vehicle; determining, by means of the processor, whether a predetermined button-pressing sequence is successful or not based, at least in part, on receiving or not receiving the first and second inputs;and to activate, via the processor, a display in the vehicle to provide a visual indication of whether the button-pressing sequence is successful or not based on the determination.; 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determination is based at least in part on the processor determining whether the second input is received or not within a predetermined time period after receiving the first input.

3. The method of any one of claims 1 or 2, further comprising: before waiting for the reception of the first or second input, detecting, by means of the processor, that the remote control device is connected to a vehicle charging station.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the determination is based at least in part on the processor determining whether the first input is received or not within a predetermined time period after the detection of the remote control connected to the charging station.

5. The method in accordance with any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first auxiliary function refers to one of the following: vehicle horn, vehicle brake, or operation of the vehicle forks.

6. The method according to any of claims 1-5, wherein the second entry is indicative that at least the second button and the third button of the remote control device have been pressed simultaneously, wherein the third button relates to a second auxiliary function of the vehicle.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the first auxiliary function is related to one of the vehicle horns, the vehicle brake, or the operation of the vehicle forks, and the second auxiliary function is related to another of the vehicle horns, the vehicle brake, or the operation of the vehicle forks.

8. The method according to any of claims 1 to 7, further comprising: waiting for the processor, after receiving the first and second inputs, to receive a third input indicating that at least a third button of the remote control device has been pressed, wherein the third button relates to a second auxiliary function of the MA.a.ZUZJ.-W 1 / 03 vehicle; and determining, by the processor, whether the predetermined button-pressing sequence is successful or not based, at least in part, on receiving or not receiving the first, second, and third inputs.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the determination is based at least in part on the processor determining whether the third input is received or not within a predetermined time period after receiving the second input.

10. The method according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the predetermined button-pressing sequence comprises the scroll button of the remote control device being the first button pressed.

11. A system for testing the operational characteristics of a remote control device associated with a material handling vehicle, comprising: a memory device that stores executable instructions; and a processor communicating with the memory device, wherein the processor, when executing the executable instructions: awaits the receipt of a first input indicating that a first button of the remote control device has been pressed, wherein the first button comprises a shift button of the remote control device; awaits the receipt, after receiving the first input, of a second input indicating that at least a second button of the remote control device has been pressed, wherein the second button relates to a first auxiliary function of the vehicle; determines whether a predetermined button-pressing sequence is successful or not based at least in part on receiving or not receiving the first and second inputs;and activates a display in the vehicle to provide a visual indication of whether the button-pressing sequence is successful or not, depending on the determination.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the determination is based at least in part on determining whether the second input is received or not within a predetermined period of time after receiving the first input.

13. The system according to any of claims 11 or 12, wherein the processor, when executing the executable code: before waiting for the receipt of the first or second input, detects that the remote control device is connected to a vehicle charging station.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the determination is based at least in part on determining whether the first input is received or not within a predetermined time period after the detection of the remote control connected to the charging station.

15. The system in accordance with any of claims 11 to 14, wherein the first auxiliary function relates to one of the following: vehicle horn, vehicle brake, or operation of the vehicle forks.

16. The system according to any of claims 11 to 15, wherein the second input indicates that at least the second and third buttons of the remote control device have been pressed simultaneously, wherein the third button relates to a second auxiliary function of the vehicle. MA.a.ZUZJiW 1 / 03 17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the first auxiliary function is related to one of the vehicle's horns, the vehicle's brake, or the operation of the vehicle's forks, and the second auxiliary function is related to another of the vehicle's horns, the vehicle's brake, or the lifting of the vehicle's forks. 5 18. The system according to any of claims 11 to 17, wherein the processor, when executing the executable code: waits for the receipt, after receiving the first and second inputs, of a third input indicating that at least a third button of the remote control device has been pressed, wherein the third button relates to a second auxiliary function of the vehicle; and determines, by the processor, whether the predetermined button-pressing sequence 10 is successful or not based, at least in part, on receiving or not receiving the first, second, and third inputs.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the determination is based at least in part on determining whether the third input is received within a predetermined time period after the second input is received.

20. The system according to any of claims 11 to 19, wherein the predetermined button-pressing sequence comprises the scroll button of the remote control device being the first button pressed.

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