Coupled Collision Protection Systems for Industrial Truck Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current collision protection systems in industrial trucks have limited visibility, leading to reduced throughput and increased risk of accidents due to their limited field of view and high costs, especially when navigating through areas obstructed by loads or in complex environments.
Innovation Solution
Coupling the safety field monitored by the industrial truck's collision protection system with another external collision protection system, such as a mobile or stationary system, to expand the visibility and coverage area, allowing for real-time data exchange and communication to ensure safe navigation and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple collision avoidance systems with laser scanners are installed to enable omnidirectional view, then the field of view and safety coverage are improved, but the system cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple collision avoidance systems into a networked system where systems share data and coordinate their safety zones. Instead of each truck having complete omnidirectional coverage, the collective network provides comprehensive coverage through data sharing and coordinated monitoring of overlapping zones.
Solution Approach 2:
Each collision avoidance system serves multiple functions: monitoring its primary forward path, participating in network data exchange, and contributing to collective safety coverage for other trucks. The systems are designed to be interoperable and serve both individual and collective safety needs.
2Reliability
If multiple collision avoidance systems are installed for omnidirectional view, then the safety field coverage is improved, but the installation space requirement and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the safety functions of multiple trucks by networking their collision avoidance systems. This allows each truck to use a single or reduced number of sensors while achieving collective omnidirectional coverage through the network, reducing per-unit manufacturing costs while maintaining overall safety coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication network acts as an intermediary that transmits safety zone data between trucks. This allows each truck to 'see' around obstacles by receiving data from other trucks' sensors, eliminating the need for each truck to have expensive omnidirectional sensor arrays.
3Reliability
If the industrial truck travels slowly to ensure safety in obstructed areas, then the collision risk is reduced, but the throughput and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The networked collision avoidance systems continuously exchange data about detected obstacles and safe zones. This real-time feedback allows trucks to receive information about hazards ahead that are obscured from their direct view, enabling them to maintain higher speeds while staying informed of safety conditions through network data.
Solution Approach 2:
Other trucks in the network detect and report obstacles before the primary truck encounters them. This preliminary detection by network participants allows the primary truck to prepare for potential hazards in advance, maintaining higher speeds while being forewarned of obstacles that would otherwise require slow, cautious approach.
4Device complexity
If a single collision protection system is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the field of view and safety monitoring capability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The communication network serves as an intermediary that extends the effective field of view of each collision avoidance system. By receiving and processing data from other trucks' sensors through this intermediary network, each system gains awareness of areas that would otherwise be blind spots, compensating for its limited direct viewing capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances the safety field coverage, reduces the need for multiple sensors, lowers manufacturing costs, and enables faster and safer navigation, even in obstructed areas, thereby improving throughput and reducing the risk of accidents.
Implementation Method 1
The vehicle-mounted collision protection system typically uses one or more laser sensors, such as laser scanners
Implementation Method 2
The laser light striking an obstacle is reflected back to itself, i.e., to the transmitter, or to a receiver mounted directly next to it
Implementation Method 3
Conventional methods for environmental monitoring and collision avoidance in industrial trucks are based on distance measurement using lasers, ultrasound, or radar
Implementation Method 4
Conventional methods for environmental monitoring and collision avoidance in industrial trucks are based on distance measurement using lasers, ultrasound, or radar
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating at least one industrial truck (1) in an intralogistics system, wherein at least one safety field (S1) in a surrounding area of the industrial truck (1) is monitored by means of at least one collision protection system (7) of the industrial truck (1), and to an intralogistics system for carrying out the method. It is proposed that the safety field (S1) monitored by the collision protection system (7) of the industrial truck (1) be coupled with at least one further safety field (S2) monitored by at least one further collision protection system (13) of the intralogistics system.