Remote Forklift Travel Request Control Using Stored Vehicle Conditions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing material handling vehicles lack efficient systems for seamlessly transitioning between manual operation and remote travel request modes, which can enhance operator convenience and safety in warehouse environments.
Innovation Solution
A system for a remotely controllable material handling vehicle that includes a controller with a processor and memory, allowing for continuous evaluation of vehicle conditions and enabling switching between manual and travel request modes, where remote control signals are processed to command vehicle movements based on stored condition data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the vehicle operates in manual mode only, then the operator has direct control over vehicle movements, but the operator cannot remotely request the vehicle to move forward without continuous manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously evaluates vehicle conditions and stores them in memory before a travel request is made. This preliminary evaluation and storage of condition data enables the vehicle to be ready for remote travel requests without requiring continuous manual monitoring, thus improving ease of remote operation while managing system complexity through proactive condition assessment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically monitors and evaluates vehicle conditions without requiring operator intervention. The controller continuously assesses conditions such as brake status, steering angle, and vehicle speed, and makes autonomous decisions about whether to execute travel requests based on pre-set safety criteria, reducing the need for complex manual control systems.
2Speed
If the vehicle moves forward on every travel request, then the response time is fast, but safety may be compromised if vehicle conditions are not favorable
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously monitors vehicle conditions including brake status, steering angle, and vehicle speed, and uses this feedback to determine whether to execute travel requests. The system provides feedback to the remote control device indicating whether the vehicle will move forward or remain stationary based on current conditions, ensuring safety while maintaining responsive operation when conditions are favorable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary evaluation of vehicle conditions before executing travel requests. By continuously assessing conditions such as whether brakes are applied, steering angle is within acceptable ranges, and vehicle speed is appropriate, the system determines in advance whether a travel request should be honored, ensuring safety decisions are made before movement occurs.
3Reliability
If the controller continuously monitors all vehicle conditions, then safety and reliability are improved, but energy consumption and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The controller monitors only the most critical vehicle conditions necessary for safe operation, such as brake status, steering angle, and vehicle speed. Rather than continuously monitoring all possible vehicle parameters, the system focuses on the essential conditions that directly impact travel safety, reducing energy consumption while maintaining adequate monitoring accuracy for reliable operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for a remotely controllable material handling vehicle switchable between a manual mode and a travel request mode is provided. The system can include a controller including a processor and a memory, where vehicle condition data previously evaluated by the controller can be stored in the memory. A remote control device can be in communication with the controller, where a travel control function on the remote control device can be configured to provide a travel request to the controller to cause the material handling vehicle to move forward when the material handling vehicle is in the travel request mode. In some aspects, the controller can be configured to receive the travel request, recall at least one previously evaluated vehicle condition data stored in the memory, and, based on the at least one vehicle condition data stored in the memory, command the material handling vehicle to move forward.