Industrial Truck Remote Control Safety via Platform Presence Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial trucks, particularly horizontal order pickers, face challenges in ensuring safe operation when using a remote control and a driver's platform with a dead man's switch, as accidental activation can lead to unintended vehicle movement, and existing solutions do not adequately prevent this.
Innovation Solution
An industrial truck equipped with a step device near the driver's platform and a remote control system that includes a controller to switch between remote control modes, using personal switches to ensure the truck cannot be controlled remotely when the driver is standing on the step or platform, thereby preventing accidental operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If remote control mode is enabled for operational convenience, then ease of operation is improved, but risk of accidental activation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of driver presence on the platform before enabling remote control mode. The sensor detects whether the driver is standing on the platform in advance, and only allows remote control activation when the platform is empty, preventing accidental activation before it can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
A sensor acts as an intermediary between the driver's presence and the remote control system. The sensor detects the driver's position and transmits this information to the control unit, which uses it to determine whether to enable remote control mode, serving as a safety mediator.
2Productivity
If driver's platform is provided for order picking, then productivity is improved, but risk of unintended vehicle movement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system detects driver presence on the platform before allowing any vehicle control operations. By performing this detection in advance, the system ensures that the vehicle cannot be moved unintentionally while the driver is on the platform, maintaining both productivity and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor provides continuous feedback about driver presence on the platform to the control unit. This feedback mechanism ensures that the control system always knows whether the driver is on the platform and adjusts its response accordingly, preventing unintended vehicle movement while allowing efficient order picking.
3Adaptability or versatility
If step device is added for accessing higher shelves, then adaptability is improved, but complexity of detecting driver position increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system is segmented into multiple sensors: one for the platform and one for the step device. Each sensor independently detects presence on its specific location, allowing the system to handle the added complexity of multiple positions through modular detection rather than a single complex system.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system is designed to serve multiple functions: detecting driver presence on the platform, detecting driver presence on the step device, and controlling remote operation based on either detection. This multi-functional approach handles the increased adaptability requirements without proportionally increasing complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Industrial truck 1 with a step device 3 provided close to a driver's platform 2, a remote control via which one or more functions of the vehicle can be controlled, and with a control unit that can switch a remote control mode on and off, wherein in the remote control mode it is possible to control vehicle functions by the remote control, wherein the step device is equipped with a person switch 4, upon actuation of which the control unit switches off the remote control mode.