Forklift Remote Operation Forced Stop With Steering Hold

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Solution Overview

Problem

Industrial vehicle remote operation systems face safety concerns when traveling continues in inappropriate situations, leading to potential unsafe operations.

Innovation Solution

An industrial vehicle remote operation system that includes a vehicle communication unit, a remote communication unit for wireless communication, and a forced stop control unit to decelerate and forcibly stop the vehicle while maintaining its steering angle when a forced stop condition is met, preventing unintended travel directions and reducing operational instability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the industrial vehicle continues traveling in inappropriate situations for remote operation, then the remote operation can be maintained, but the safety is lowered

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidcontinuation of traveling
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The forced stop control unit preemptively applies braking force to decelerate and stop the industrial vehicle when a forced stop condition is detected during remote operation. This preliminary anti-action prevents the vehicle from continuing to travel in inappropriate situations, thereby resolving the safety concern while maintaining operational control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Reliability

If the industrial vehicle decelerates and stops during forced stop control, then the safety is improved, but the vehicle may travel in a direction not intended by the operator

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidtrajectory control
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The forced stop control unit stores the steering angle formed at the moment the forced stop condition is met. During the forced stop deceleration process, the control unit maintains this steering angle constant, ensuring the vehicle continues along the intended trajectory. This preliminary action of preserving the steering state prevents unintended directional changes while the vehicle stops.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If remote operation is performed during forced stop control, then the operator can control the vehicle, but operational instability occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote operation controlVSAvoidbehavior stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The remote operation control unit suspends remote operation control when a forced stop condition is met and during the subsequent forced stop control period. This extraction of the remote operation function prevents conflicting control inputs during the deceleration phase, ensuring stable vehicle behavior. The remote operation is only restored after the forced stop control is completed and stability is reestablished.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3702317B1Industrial vehicle remote operation system, remote operation device, industrial vehicle remote operation program, industrial vehicle remote operation method, and industrial vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.05.22 TOYOTA INDUSTRIES CORP
  • EP3702317B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3702317B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3702317B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An industrial vehicle remote operation system includes a forklift truck which includes a vehicle communication unit, and a remote operation device which includes a remote communication unit performing wireless communication with the vehicle communication unit. The remote operation device herein includes a remote CPU which performs forced stop control for forcibly stopping traveling of the forklift truck by decelerating the forklift truck while maintaining a steering angle of the forklift truck formed when a forced stop condition is met, in a case where the forced stop condition is met in a situation that the remote operation of traveling of the forklift truck is performed using the remote operation device.