Forklift Remote Mode Control for Abnormal Stop and Safe Restart

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Solution Overview

Problem

During remote operation of industrial vehicles, there is a risk of safety reduction due to continuous operation during abnormal situations, and unintended restarts when attempting to resume operation after an abnormal situation is addressed.

Innovation Solution

An industrial vehicle remote operation system with a mode control unit that shifts between remote mode, abnormal stop mode, and neutral mode based on detected abnormal situations and cancel operations, ensuring safety by preventing continuous operation during abnormalities and allowing controlled restarts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If remote operation is continuously performed during abnormal situations, then productivity is maintained, but safety is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous operationVSAvoidsafety
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes the control mode based on the operational state. When an abnormal situation is detected, the mode control unit automatically transitions from remote mode to abnormal stop mode, preventing continuous operation during abnormal conditions while maintaining productivity during normal operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The abnormal situation detection unit continuously monitors the communication connection state and provides feedback to the mode control unit. This feedback mechanism enables the system to detect abnormal conditions and automatically adjust the control mode to maintain safety while minimizing disruption to productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If remote operation is stopped during abnormal situations, then safety is improved, but productivity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidoperation continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system is segmented into distinct modes (remote mode, abnormal stop mode, and neutral mode) with clear transition rules. This segmentation allows the system to stop operation only when necessary for safety while quickly transitioning back to productive operation once the abnormal condition is resolved

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares for resumption of operation by maintaining the communication connection state during abnormal stop mode. The cancel operation detection unit is ready to detect when the abnormal condition is resolved, enabling quick transition from abnormal stop mode to neutral mode and subsequent resumption of remote operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If remote operation is easily restarted after abnormal stop, then ease of operation is improved, but safety is reduced due to unintended restarts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverestart convenienceVSAvoidunintended restart prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic control mode transitions with distinct states for abnormal stop and neutral modes. The mode control unit requires detection of a cancel operation to transition from abnormal stop mode to neutral mode, and only then allows transition to remote mode, preventing unintended restarts while maintaining ease of operation through clear, structured transitions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The neutral mode serves as an intermediary state between abnormal stop mode and remote mode. This intermediate state acts as a safety buffer, requiring explicit operator action to transition from abnormal stop through neutral to remote mode, thereby preventing accidental or unintended restarts while maintaining operational convenience

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3770108B1Remote operation system for industrial vehicles, industrial vehicle, remote operation device, remote operation program for industrial vehicles, and remote operation method for industrial vehicles
Publication Date: 2022.03.30 TOYOTA INDUSTRIES CORP
  • EP3770108B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3770108B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3770108B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

An industrial vehicle remote operation system includes a forklift and a remote operation device used for remotely operating the forklift. The forklift includes a remote communication unit provided in the remote operation device and a vehicle communication unit that wirelessly communicates with the remote communication unit. The industrial vehicle remote operation system includes a vehicle CPU that controls a control mode of the forklift. The control mode includes a remote mode, a neutral mode, and an abnormal stop mode.