Industrial vehicle geo-feature system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10086756-B2
Application number	US-201615162723-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 24, 2016
Priority date	May 25, 2015
Publication date	Oct 2, 2018
Grant date	Oct 2, 2018

Abstract

In location-based geo-feature implementations, messages for conveyance on an industrial vehicle are determined based on a current operating state of the industrial vehicle, information about a zone with expected operating conditions, and the industrial vehicle's location. When the industrial vehicle enters the zone, the current operating state of the industrial vehicle is compared to the expected operating state, which determines the message for display. Further, the current operating state may change the way the message is displayed. In vehicle-based implementations, vehicle data is collected and analyzed to generate messages upon the triggering of predetermined events. The detection of an event can be combined with vehicle position data to create an event record that captures location. Tools are also provided for setting up, managing and using the above capabilities.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. In an industrial vehicle environment, a machine-executable process, comprising:
receiving geo-feature information about a predefined geo-feature that is located in an area upon which an industrial vehicle travels;
monitoring location information identifying a current location of the industrial vehicle; and
collecting operation information about a current operating state of the industrial vehicle;
wherein, upon detecting that the industrial vehicle encounters the geo-feature, the process further comprising:
determining whether the predefined geo-feature is a message zone or an action zone;
storing, periodically, the operational information and the location information at least during the encounter with the geo-feature;
generating an output message based on the geo-feature information, the location information, and the operating information by:
determining an expected operating state of the industrial vehicle from the geo-feature information, wherein the expected operating state includes an acceptable range;
comparing the current operating state of the industrial vehicle to the expected operating state; and
generating at least one of a first message as the output message where the comparison indicates that the current operating state is within the acceptable range of the expected operating state, and a second message as the output message, different than the first message, where the current operating state is outside the acceptable range of the expected operating state; and

conveying, by a processor on the industrial vehicle, the output message on the industrial vehicle, wherein conveying the output message further includes conveying the message on the industrial vehicle where the industrial vehicle is within the message zone.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein determining an expected operating state further includes identifying an acceptable range for the expected operating state selected from the group consisting of speed of the industrial vehicle, a height of forks of the industrial vehicle, a time that the industrial vehicle remains in the predefined geo-feature, and an orientation of the industrial vehicle.

3. The process of claim 1 further comprising selecting an output device for conveying the message based on at least one of: the operating information, a speed of the industrial vehicle, and an orientation of the industrial vehicle.

4. The process of claim 1 further comprising:
configuring at least two types of output messages including a first type of message as text on a screen of the industrial vehicle, and a second type of message on a screen of the industrial vehicle without using text;
wherein conveying the output message further comprises:
selecting whether to display the first type of message or the second type of message; and
displaying the selected type of message.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the industrial vehicle comprises a first light visible to an interior of the industrial vehicle and a second light visible to an exterior of the industrial vehicle, the process further comprising:
activating at least one of the first light and the second light of the industrial vehicle upon outputting the message.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein receiving geo-feature information about a predefined geo-feature includes collecting information about at least one of:
a predefined fixed geo-feature;
a predefined mobile geo-feature surrounding the industrial vehicle; and
a predefined mobile geo-feature identified as a geo-feature around another industrial vehicle.

7. The process of claim 1 , wherein receiving geo-feature information about a predefined geo-feature further comprises dynamically generating the geo-feature in response to a detected impact involving the industrial vehicle.

8. The process of claim 1 , wherein:
receiving geo-feature information about a predefined geo-feature further comprises receiving by the processor of the industrial vehicle, via a wireless transceiver mounted on an industrial vehicle, the geo-feature information about the defined geo-feature;
monitoring location information identifying a current location of an industrial vehicle comprises monitoring, by the processor on the industrial vehicle, the location information;
collecting operation information about a current operating state of the industrial vehicle comprises collecting the operational information by the processor on the industrial vehicle; and
outputting the message further comprises displaying the message on a display on the industrial vehicle.

9. A hardware computing device configured to execute computer code to generate a graphical user interface for interacting with industrial vehicles, comprising:
a processor coupled to memory, where the processor executes program code stored in the memory for:
presenting on the graphical user interface, a model depicting a graphical representation of a virtual environment that corresponds to a physical environment, where the physical environment is contained within a bounded region;
providing a tool with the graphical user interface that enables a user to define a geo-feature at a location on the model, the geo-feature corresponding to an element within the virtual environment that transforms into an industrial vehicle control in the corresponding physical environment such that an event triggers a corresponding action on an industrial vehicle within the corresponding physical environment when the industrial vehicle encounters the geo-feature, the tool further enabling the user to draw a geo-zone on the model, where a geo-zone is an area on the model that corresponds to a desired geo-feature;
opening a dialog box within the graphical user interface that enables the user to enter a parameter that defines at least one of a function, characteristic, or action of the defined geo-feature; and
uploading the defined geo-feature into the industrial vehicle such that operation of the industrial vehicle within the corresponding physical environment triggers the event and corresponding action when the industrial vehicle encounters a physical location associated with the geo-feature.

10. The hardware computing device of claim 9 , wherein:
providing a tool that enables the user to draw a geo-zone on the model comprises:
drawing at least one of:
an action zone that defines a zone where the industrial vehicle is expected to perform a predetermined action; and
a prompt zone that defines a zone where the industrial vehicle is to provide a message.

11. The hardware computing device of claim 10 , wherein:
drawing an action zone comprises drawing at least one of:
a restriction zone that defines a zone that the industrial vehicle is to stay out of;
a speed zone that defines a zone where the industrial vehicle is to maintain a predetermined maximum speed;
a control zone that defines a zone where an automation feature takes control of the industrial vehicle;
a height restrict zone that defines a zone where the industrial vehicle is to maintain forks below a predetermined maximum height;
a stop zone that defines a zone where the industrial vehicle is to stop; and
a horn zone that defines a zone where the industrial vehicle is to sound a horn.

12. The hardware computing device of claim 10 , wherein:
drawing at least one of:
an action zone and a prompt zone comprises:
enabling the user to draw a prompt zone adjacent to an action zone wherein the prompt zone provides a message indicating the desired industrial vehicle action when the industrial vehicle encounters the adjacent action zone.

13. The hardware computing device of claim 9 further comprising

Assignees

• Crown Equip Corp

Inventors

• Manci Lewis H
• Swift Philip W
• Waltz Lucas B

Classifications

• G01C21/206

  specially adapted for indoor navigation · CPC title

• B66F17/003

  for fork-lift trucks · CPC title

• B60Q9/00 Primary

  Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 {, e.g. haptic signalling} · CPC title

• G07C5/008

  communicating information to a remotely located station (transmission systems for measured values G08C) · CPC title

• G06Q10/06

  Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling · CPC title