Materials Handling Vehicle Temporal Zones for Dynamic Speed Compliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle systems in covered environments, such as warehouses, lack the ability to dynamically detect and avoid obstacles while maintaining operational efficiency, particularly in restricted zones.
Innovation Solution
A materials handling vehicle equipped with sensors and transceivers, coupled with a computing device, determines the vehicle's location and orientation to adjust operations according to predefined policies at zone edges, allowing for dynamic compliance with speed, height, and deceleration rules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If static restriction zones are used to control vehicle speed, then safety in restricted areas is improved, but operational efficiency deteriorates due to unnecessary speed reductions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by calculating the exact distance at which the vehicle should begin deceleration to comply with restriction zone policies. Instead of reducing speed immediately upon entering a restriction zone, the system computes the optimal starting point based on the vehicle's current speed, deceleration rate, and the distance to the zone boundary, allowing the vehicle to maintain higher speeds until necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the deceleration profile based on real-time vehicle characteristics and zone policies. The vehicle computing device determines the characteristic of the materials handling vehicle that affects compliance with the policy and calculates a dynamic distance to begin deceleration, rather than using fixed static zones that require uniform speed reductions regardless of vehicle type or zone-specific requirements.
2Reliability
If vehicles reduce speed upon entering restriction zones, then compliance with safety policies is improved, but the time required to traverse the environment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates and communicates the optimal distance to begin deceleration before the vehicle reaches the restriction zone boundary. This allows the vehicle to start slowing down in advance at the precise moment needed to comply with the policy while minimizing the impact on overall traversal time, rather than reducing speed immediately upon zone entry.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the vehicle's location, orientation, and operational characteristics, providing real-time feedback to adjust the deceleration profile. The vehicle computing device determines the characteristic of the materials handling vehicle and uses this feedback to optimize the distance for beginning deceleration, ensuring policy compliance while minimizing time loss.
3Device complexity
If static zones are used without real-time detection, then system complexity is reduced, but the ability to detect and avoid obstacles deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle computing device performs multiple functions using a unified approach: it determines the vehicle's location and orientation, calculates the distance to restriction zones, determines vehicle characteristics affecting compliance, and computes optimal deceleration profiles. This multi-functional system handles both navigation and safety compliance without requiring separate specialized systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle computing device uses the vehicle's own sensors and characteristics to autonomously determine compliance requirements and adjust operations. The system self-determines the characteristic of the materials handling vehicle and calculates the distance to begin deceleration based on real-time data, eliminating the need for external complex control systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances the vehicle's ability to navigate restricted zones by dynamically adjusting operations based on real-time data, improving safety and efficiency by avoiding obstacles and maintaining compliance with environmental policies.
Implementation Method 1
a vehicle transceiver for detecting a location of the materials handling vehicle in the covered environment
Implementation Method 2
a vehicle sensor for detecting an orientation of the materials handling vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments provided herein include a method that includes creating a temporal-based restriction zone for a covered environment that defines an area within which a materials handling vehicle must comply with a policy, defining the policy, and defining a first time that the policy applies. Some embodiments include determining a location and an orientation of the materials handling vehicle, determining from the location and the orientation, that the materials handling vehicle is approaching the temporal-based restriction zone, and determining whether a current time corresponds with the first time the policy applies. Some embodiments include, in response to determining that the materials handling vehicle is approaching the temporal-based restriction zone at the first time the policy applies, sending to the materials handling vehicle, data related to the policy, which causes the materials handling vehicle to adjust operation to comply with the policy when the materials handling vehicle enters the temporal-based restriction zone.