Abstract: Goods storage and retrieval systems and materials handling vehicles are provided. The goods storage and retrieval system includes a multilevel warehouse racking system; a materials handling vehicle comprising a mast assembly, a picking attachment, and vehicle-based cart engagement hardware; a mobile storage cart; and a transporter comprising transporter-based engagement hardware. The transporter-based engagement hardware enables the transporter to engage, transport, and disengage the mobile storage cart. The vehicle-based cart engagement hardware is coupled to the mast assembly to (i) engage and disengage the mobile storage cart and (ii) transport the mobile storage cart to multiple levels of the multilevel warehouse racking system. The mast assembly and the picking attachment are configured to access multiple levels of the multilevel warehouse racking system. The picking attachment is configured to transfer totes between the multilevel warehouse racking system and the mobile storage cart.

Abstract: Goods storage and retrieval systems and materials handling vehicles are provided. The goods storage and retrieval system includes a multilevel warehouse racking system; a materials handling vehicle comprising a mast assembly, a picking attachment, and vehicle-based cart engagement hardware; a mobile storage cart; and a transporter comprising transporter-based engagement hardware. The transporter-based engagement hardware enables the transporter to engage, transport, and disengage the mobile storage cart. The vehicle-based cart engagement hardware is coupled to the mast assembly to (i) engage and disengage the mobile storage cart and (ii) transport the mobile storage cart to multiple levels of the multilevel warehouse racking system. The mast assembly and the picking attachment are configured to access multiple levels of the multilevel warehouse racking system. The picking attachment is configured to transfer totes between the multilevel warehouse racking system and the mobile storage cart.

Abstract: Operating a materials handling vehicle includes monitoring, by a controller, a first vehicle drive parameter during a first manual operation of the vehicle by an operator; monitoring, by the controller, the first vehicle drive parameter during a second manual operation of the vehicle by the operator; receiving, by the controller after the first manual operation of the vehicle and the second manual operation of the vehicle, a request to implement a semi-automated driving operation; calculating, by the controller, a first weighted average based on the monitored first vehicle drive parameter during the first manual operation of the vehicle and the monitored first vehicle parameter during the second manual operation of the vehicle; and based at least in part on the calculated first weighted average, controlling, by the controller, implementation of the semi-automated driving operation.

Abstract: Operation of a materials handling vehicle is monitored for impacts by generating an electrical impact signal indicative of a force measurement electronically read from a sensor mounted on the materials handling vehicle, generating an electrical impulse signal indicative of a change of momentum of the materials handling vehicle, and outputting an electrical impact alarm signal when the electrical impact signal exceeds a selected force limit threshold and the electrical impulse signal exceeds an impulse signal limit within a predetermined time period.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a materials handling vehicle configured to navigate along a warehouse environment inventory transit surface, the vehicle including control architecture in communication with a drive mechanism, a materials handling mechanism, a speed zone sensing subsystem configured to provide an indication of whether the vehicle is in a speed zone, and a speed control processor configured to prompt the operator to reduce a vehicle speed of the vehicle to under a speed zone limit when the vehicle speed is approaching or in the speed zone, determine whether the vehicle speed is under the speed zone limit in the speed zone, and apply a speed cap to limit a maximum vehicle speed of the vehicle to a magnitude that is at or below the speed zone limit when the speed control processor has determined that the vehicle speed is under the speed zone limit in the speed zone.

Abstract: A materials handling vehicle includes: a power unit including: a steered wheel, and a steering device for generating a steer control signal; a load handling assembly coupled to the power unit; a controller located on the power unit for receiving the steer control signal; and a sensing device on the power unit and coupled to the controller. The sensing device monitoring areas in front of and next to the vehicle. Based on sensing device data, the controller may modify at least one of the following vehicle parameters: a maximum allowable turning angle or a steered-wheel-to-steering-device ratio.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an industrial facility is provided comprising a tag layout and at least one ingress/egress zone. The tag layout comprises at least one double row of tags. The ingress/egress zone is located outside of an area of the vehicle travel plane occupied by the aisle path and is bounded in its entirety by the double row of tags, by two or more double rows of tags, by a combination of one or more double rows of tags and one more selected facility boundaries, or by combinations thereof. The double row of tags is arranged in an n × m matrix that is configured for successive detection of the inner and outer rows of tags that is dependent on the point-of-origin of a sensor transit path across the double row of tags. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: Vehicles, systems, and methods for navigating or tracking the navigation of a materials handling vehicle along a surface that may include a camera and vehicle functions to match two-dimensional image information from camera data associated with the input image of overhead features with a plurality of global target locations of a warehouse map to generate a plurality of candidate optical targets, an optical target associated with each global target location and a code; filter the targets to determine a candidate optical target; decode the target to identify the associated code; identify an optical target associated with the identified code; determine a camera metric relative to the identified optical target and the position and orientation of the identified optical target in the warehouse map; calculate a vehicle pose based on the camera metric; and navigate the materials handling vehicle utilizing the vehicle pose.

Abstract: A process for calibrating a distance and range measurement device coupled to an industrial vehicle comprises taking a first measurement of an emission from the device at a first yaw angle relative to a roll axis of the device. A second measurement of the emission at a second yaw angle relative to the roll axis is taken. The second yaw angle is within an angular tolerance of the first yaw angle but in an opposite direction. The device is calibrated relative to the roll axis when the first and second measurements are within a tolerance of each other. A third measurement of the distance and range measurement device beam emitted from the distance and range measurement device at a pitch angle is taken. If the third measurement and a virtual emission length are within a tolerance, then the device is calibrated with respect to the pitch axis.

Abstract: An industrial vehicle comprising a tag reader, a reader module, and a diagnostic tag, wherein the diagnostic tag is coupled to the industrial truck within a read range of the tag reader. The reader module and the tag reader cooperate to identify the diagnostic tag and individual tags of a tag layout and the reader module discriminates between the individual tags of the tag layout and the diagnostic tag and the individual tags of the tag layout, correlates an identified individual tag of the tag layout with tag data, correlates an identified diagnostic tag with operation of the tag reader, and generates a missing tag signal if the diagnostic tag is not identified or the operation of the tag reader is not within specified operating parameters.

Abstract: A process for recommending a fleet of industrial vehicles comprises receiving, via a user interface, input variables concerning a warehouse configuration and operational variables concerning a fleet configuration. Instances of a warehouse model, an operations model, vehicle specifications, and workflow parameters are created where the workflow parameters are established workflow models derived from the warehouse configuration and vehicle specifications. A workflow model is simulated using kinematic models of the vehicles by defining a workflow model defining tasks of the industrial vehicles within an environment associated with performance of an operation, wherein the workflow model is based on the workflow parameters and associating the tasks with the kinematic models, which incorporate cutback curves. The kinematic model is applied to the workflow model based upon travel paths of the workflow model to determine results.

Abstract: A materials handling vehicle includes: a power unit including: a steered wheel, and a steering device for generating a steer control signal; a load handling assembly coupled to the power unit; a controller located on the power unit for receiving the steer control signal; and a sensing device on the power unit and coupled to the controller. The sensing device monitoring areas in front of and next to the vehicle. Based on sensing device data, the controller may modify at least one of the following vehicle parameters: a maximum allowable turning angle or a steered-wheel-to-steering-device ratio.

Abstract: A process of providing dynamic industrial vehicle feedback comprises storing in memory, data identifying a vehicle-based event that characterizes an operation of an industrial vehicle. Further, the process comprises storing into memory, operation information collected from an electronic component on the industrial vehicle that is associated with the identified event. The collected operation information characterizes a current operating state of the industrial vehicle as the industrial vehicle is being operated. The process further comprises detecting that the event has occurred based upon the collected operation information and generating an output message based on the detected event and the collected operation information. The output message is then conveyed on the industrial vehicle.

Abstract: Embodiments provided herein include systems and methods for object detection in an environment. One embodiment of a system includes a vehicle with a wireless communication receiver for receiving communication from a wireless communication transmitter that is placed on a first object and a computing device that includes a memory component and a processor. The memory component may store logic that causes the system to receive a communication from the wireless communication transmitter, receive proximity data related to a second object, and determine a second location of the second object. Some embodiments cause the system to determine a control zone along a current path of the vehicle based on a speed of the vehicle, and in response to determining that at least one of the following enters the control zone: the first object or the second object, reduce the speed of the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrically operated steering system (1) for a vehicle (2) with a rack (3) for attaching the steering system (1) to a vehicle frame of the vehicle (2), two steerable wheels (4) that are pivotably attached to the rack (3), a rod element (5) arranged on the rack (3), which is slidable in its longitudinal direction in relation to the rack (3), a kinematic unit (13) which is coupled to the rod element (5) and which transforms a movement of the rod element (5) into a steering rotation of the wheels (4), an electric machine (6), which is mechanically connected to the rod element (5) for effecting the movement of the rod element (5), and a lateral force absorbing mechanism (7) which is configured for absorbing a lateral force produced by the kinematic unit (13) in relation to the rod element (5). The invention further relates to a vehicle (2) comprising such a steering system (1).

Abstract: A goods-to-man warehousing system comprises a multilevel racking system, a plurality of mobile storage units, a storage unit transporter, a pick-place vehicle, a mobile storage unit transfer node, and a warehouse management computing hub. The multilevel racking system comprises a vertically and horizontally distributed array of storage bays. One or more of the mobile storage units are positioned in respective ones of the storage bays of the multilevel racking system. The pick-place vehicle comprises pick-place hardware that enables the pick-place vehicle to transfer mobile storage units between a plurality of different, vertically displaced storage bays of the multilevel racking system and the mobile storage unit transfer node of the goods-to-man warehousing system. The storage unit transporter comprises storage unit engagement hardware that enables the storage unit transporter to transport mobile storage units to or from the mobile storage unit transfer node of the goods-to-man warehousing system.

Abstract: A materials handling vehicle includes a camera, odometry module, processor, and drive mechanism. The camera captures images of an identifier for a racking system aisle and a rack leg portion in the aisle. The processor uses the identifier to generate information indicative of an initial rack leg position and rack leg spacing in the aisle, generate an initial vehicle position using the initial rack leg position, generate a vehicle odometry-based position using odometry data and the initial vehicle position, detect a subsequent rack leg using a captured image, correlate the detected subsequent rack leg with an expected vehicle position using rack leg spacing, generate an odometry error signal based on a difference between the positions, and update the vehicle odometry-based position using the odometry error signal and/or generated mast sway compensation to use for end of aisle protection and/or in/out of aisle localization.

Abstract: A wheel guard is provided for use on a material handling vehicle comprising a steering assembly, an axle extending through the steering assembly and a steer wheel mounted on the axle. The wheel guard may comprise: a front plate to be positioned adjacent to the steer wheel; an axle support coupled to and extending transverse to the front plate and comprising an axle aperture through which the vehicle axle is to be extended, the wheel guard to be rotatable about the axle; and a stop coupled to at least one of the front plate or the axle support to limit rotational movement of the wheel guard about the axle.

Abstract: A process for automating control of an industrial vehicle based on location comprises scanning an environment in a travel direction of the industrial vehicle, by using an optical scanner affixed to the industrial vehicle. A marker defined by a series of tags is identified by recursively receiving a reflection of the optical scanner; determining if the reflection is indicative of an optical tag; and concatenating the indication of an optical tag to the marker. Once the marker is identified, the marker is transformed into an environmental condition and a status of the vehicle is determined, where the status correlates to the environmental condition. Further, an automated control is applied on the industrial vehicle based on the environmental condition and the status of the industrial vehicle.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an industrial facility is provided comprising a tag layout and at least one ingress/egress zone. The tag layout comprises at least one double row of tags. The ingress/egress zone is located outside of an area of the vehicle travel plane occupied by the aisle path and is bounded in its entirety by the double row of tags, by two or more double rows of tags, by a combination of one or more double rows of tags and one more selected facility boundaries, or by combinations thereof. The double row of tags is arranged in an n×m matrix that is configured for successive detection of the inner and outer rows of tags that is dependent on the point-of-origin of a sensor transit path across the double row of tags. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed.