Forklift Rear Sensor Width Adaptation for Side Collision Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rear-view monitoring systems for forklift trucks have a fixed monitoring area width that corresponds to the vehicle width, failing to detect obstacles to the side due to varying front axle widths or protruding loads, leading to potential collisions.
Innovation Solution
The monitoring area width of the environmental sensing sensor is adaptably adjusted to the width of the front axle and/or load-handling device, incorporating user input for tire type and load dimensions, with the control system intervening to prevent collisions by braking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the monitoring area width is fixed to the vehicle width, then the system structure is simple, but obstacles to the side of the forklift are not detected leading to potential collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring area width is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The control system modifies the monitoring area width based on detected front axle width and load dimensions, allowing the system to adapt to different operational conditions and prevent collisions with side obstacles.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring area width parameter is changed based on measured physical parameters (front axle width, load width). The system measures these parameters and adjusts the monitoring area width accordingly, transforming a static parameter into a dynamic one that responds to actual operational conditions.
2Reliability
If the monitoring area width is increased to cover side areas, then collision detection is improved, but false alarms increase reducing throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring area width is locally adapted to match the actual width requirements (front axle width plus load width). Instead of uniformly increasing the monitoring area width for all conditions, the system adjusts it locally to the specific operational context, detecting obstacles only where they pose a real collision risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from measurements of front axle width and load dimensions to continuously adjust the monitoring area width. This feedback mechanism ensures the monitoring area is optimized for each specific loading condition, improving detection accuracy while avoiding unnecessary monitoring of areas where obstacles would not cause collisions.
3Reliability
If the monitoring area width corresponds only to the vehicle width, then the sensor coverage is sufficient for the vehicle body, but the front axle and protruding loads are not monitored
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurements of the front axle width and load dimensions before determining the monitoring area width. By measuring these parameters in advance, the system can pre-calculate the appropriate monitoring area width that covers not only the vehicle body but also the front axle and any protruding loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring area width adjustment mechanism serves multiple functions: it covers the vehicle body, the front axle, and protruding loads within a single adaptive monitoring zone. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate monitoring zones for different vehicle components.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a forklift truck (1) with a drive unit for moving the forklift truck (1), at least one environmental sensing sensor (15), and a control unit (25) which is connected to the at least one environmental sensing sensor (15) and the drive unit (5) in terms of control technology, wherein the environmental sensing sensor (15) is configured to monitor a monitoring area (20) in the vicinity of the forklift truck (1) for obstacles (30), wherein the monitoring area (20) has a monitoring area width (BR), wherein the forklift truck (1) has a front axle (3) and a rear axle (5) and a load handling device (7) arranged in the area of the front axle (3) for receiving a load (L), wherein the environmental sensing sensor (15) is configured to monitor a rear area of the forklift truck (1) as a monitoring area (20).The monitoring area width (BR) of the monitoring area (20) of the environmental sensing sensor (15) is variable and adaptable to the width of the front axle (3) and/or to the width of the load (L) located on the load handling device (7). The environmental sensing sensor (15) and/or the control unit (25) is configured to variable and adapt the monitoring area width (BR) of the monitoring area (20) of the environmental sensing sensor (15) to the width of the front axle (3) and/or to the width of the load (L) located on the load handling device (7).