Abstract: Systems and methods can prevent or reduce jerk during operation of a materials-handling vehicle that is unloaded or carrying a load. The vehicle comprises one or more user input devices configured to receive from an operator a request to perform an action and a processor. The processor is configured to determine, before performing the action requested by the operator, a force acting on the load carried by the materials-handling vehicle as a result of the action requested by the operator. The processor determines whether the force would result in a jerk if the action is performed as requested. If it is determined that the force would result in a jerk, the action is modified so as to reduce the force. If it is determined that the force would not result in a jerk, the materials-handling vehicle performs the action as requested by the operator without modification to reduce the force.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a combination of a pallet truck and a sled for delivering goods from a truck into a building, a method for making an in-building delivery of palletized loads from a truck, and a dual-use, half-size pallet that can be carried by either the pallet truck or the sled. The pallet truck is shaped and sized to nest with the sled by comprising an alignment feature configured to mate the sled with the pallet truck. The pallet truck is shaped, sized, and constructed to lift the sled along with at least two palletized loads of goods. The pallet truck is also shaped and sized to fit within a bed of a truck. The sled comprises an alignment feature compatible with the alignment feature of the pallet truck, and a lifting mechanism shaped, sized, and constructed to lift at least one of the palletized loads of goods.

Abstract: Systems and methods associate operators with machinery, such as materials-handling vehicles. Embodiments of the disclosed system comprise a first communication module configured to determine a distance between a frame of reference associated with a vehicle and respective portable devices and first logic configured to designate a first portable device as an operator device based, at least in part, on a first distance determined by the communication module. The first logic may be further configured to exclude the first portable device from a pedestrian detection function in response to classifying the first portable device as an operator device.

Abstract: An impact protection structure includes an impact frame and one or more impact bars connected to the impact frame through one or more impact buffers. The impact buffers are configured to linearly absorb an impact force over a predetermined displacement distance. The impact bars can include slotted holes for receiving hinge pins connecting the impact bars to the impact buffers. The impact frame can be connected to a vehicle frame in a manner that permits some deformation of the vehicle frame without deforming the impact frame. One or more sensors can be provided to detect impacts. An impact alert signal can trigger a drive-inhibit function that removes torque from the drive motor. A manual override can permit an operator to drive the vehicle during the drive-inhibit function until the drive-inhibit function is reset by authorized service personnel. Additional equipment can be retrofitted to the vehicle using the impact frame.

Abstract: Lift trucks are designed with a common chassis and can accommodate different form factors and different energy sources. According to one example, a chassis for a configurable sit-down counterbalanced forklift truck comprises a front side, a rear side, a left side, and a right side. A chassis compartment is situated between the front side and the rear side and between the left side and right side of the chassis. The chassis compartment is configured to fit within the chassis compartment one of a plurality of different types of power plants for the forklift truck and one of a plurality of different types of power sources. The chassis compartment is configured to hold one of a plurality of different designs of counterweights on or in a rear portion of the chassis compartment. The chassis is configured to support one of a plurality of different operator compartment modules attached atop the chassis.

Abstract: A cable guide for a materials-handling vehicle comprises a plate-like structure with a plurality of connection points arranged thereon. The connection points can, for instance, be holes formed through the cable guide. A materials-handling vehicle comprises a plurality of connectors for connecting to the cable guide. The connectors can be standardized connectors. The cable guide can optionally include multiple plates that can be connected together through an adapter plate. The adapter plate can be connected to the connectors of the materials-handling vehicle. Multiple cables or lines can be arranged in a desired routing configuration along the cable guide using mechanical fasteners connected to selected ones of the connection points to connect the cables or lines to the cable guide in a desired routing configuration. The cable guide can be formed of a material that provides a grounded connection to the frame and that provides EMC filtering characteristics.

Abstract: A stack current controller may be configured to request a current magnitude from a fuel cell. The current magnitude requested is based at least on a battery state of charge and is performed in a stepwise manner among a plurality of current magnitude steps, where each current magnitude step includes a debounce range with respect to at least one other current magnitude step. The stack current controller may be configured to control the fuel cell to output the requested current magnitude, determine an average current output by the fuel cell over a time period, and modify a current magnitude associated with one of the current magnitude steps based on the average current.

Abstract: A clamp comprises first and second clamp halves, each comprising an elongate object receiving portion and a portion of a clamp retention mechanism. The first and second elongate object receiving portions are sized and shaped to cooperatively hold an elongate object at a desired position when the first and second clamp halves are fastened together. The first and second portions of the clamp retention mechanism are sized and shaped to (a) engage each other when the first and second clamp halves are moved towards each other in a first direction, (b) fasten the first and second clamp halves together without requiring use of a tool to engage the retention mechanism, and (c) disengage from each other when the first and second clamp halves are moved away from each other in a direction orthogonal to the first direction to unfasten the first and second clamp halves without use of a tool.

Abstract: A monitoring device tracks a plurality of related metrics, each related metric configured to monitor the same characteristic of a fuel cell system based on different types of data. The related metrics may include a first metric derived from direct measurements of the characteristics and a second metric. The second metric may be inferred from indirect measurements of the characteristic. An analysis module may detect a potential fuel leak based, at least in part, on an error, difference, deviation, and/or other comparative analysis of the related metrics. Alternatively, or in addition, potential fuel leaks may be detected by use of an artificial intelligence, machine learned and/or machine learning (AI/ML) model trained to identify related metrics that are indicative of anomalous operation of the fuel cell system, such as operation under fuel leak conditions.

Abstract: A vehicle comprises a power system, including an electrical energy storage system, an electrical generator electrically connected to the electrical energy storage system, an electrically powered actuator configured to receive energy from the power system; a memory configured to store a profile, and a controller configured to change an operation of the electrical generator before a change in demand from the power system based on the profile and a state of the electrical energy storage system. The vehicle management system may also comprise a communication interface, a memory configured to store data related to predicted changes in demand from a power system of a vehicle including an electrical generator and an electrical energy storage system, and a processor configured to generate a profile for control of electrical energy management of the power system of the vehicle based on the data and to transmit the profile to the vehicle through the communication interface.

Abstract: Systems and methods associate operators with machinery, such as materials-handling vehicles. Embodiments of the disclosed system comprise a first communication module configured to determine a distance between a frame of reference associated with a vehicle and respective portable devices and first logic configured to designate a first portable device as an operator device based, at least in part, on a first distance determined by the communication module. The first logic may be further configured to exclude the first portable device from a pedestrian detection function in response to classifying the first portable device as an operator device.

Abstract: Lift trucks designed with a common chassis can include an ergonomically improved operator compartment, wheels, lift assembly, power plant, energy source, steering, seat, and counterweight components. Modular chassis designs can accommodate different form factors and different energy sources to accommodate different end uses of the lift truck, including lift trucks having a low floor, seatside steering, and/or a combination of operator-inaccessible compartments for high-reliability components and operator-accessible components for components that may require more frequent or convenient access. In one embodiment, the energy source is a lithium-ion battery bank in an operator-inaccessible compartment under a low, broad floor that facilitates easy entry into and exit from the operator compartment as well as ergonomic operation by the operator.

Abstract: A stack current controller may be configured to determine a stack current request based on a state of charge of a battery, an error based on a difference between an actual coolant temperature and a coolant temperature setpoint, or both. A plurality of stack current levels may be implemented corresponding to different battery state-of-charge thresholds. The determined stack current magnitude may be the lowest current magnitude that provides sufficient heat to maintain a coolant temperature at the coolant temperature setpoint or within the coolant temperature threshold. The determined stack current magnitude may be the highest current magnitude that provides sufficient power while maintaining a coolant temperature at the coolant temperature setpoint or within the coolant temperature threshold.

Abstract: A modular assembly for a fuel-cell vehicle is configured to connect to a bracket arranged along a longitudinal frame of the vehicle. The modular frame can include one or more components for powering the vehicle, including one or more of a fuel cell, a battery, a battery cooling system, and hydrogen storage tanks. The modular assembly can communicate with the fuel-cell vehicle through standard integration components regardless of the particular components in the modular assembly. The modular assembly can be readily removed from the fuel-cell vehicle and replaced with a different modular assembly containing different components.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, kits, methods and storage medium associated with using different electrical energy source types with an electric vehicle are disclosed herein.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems and methods associated with powered vehicles are disclosed herein. In examples, a system for controlling a vehicle may include sensors and a processor coupled to the sensors. The processor may identify one or more values received from the one or more sensors, wherein the one or more values are associated with one or more conditions of the vehicle and/or the vehicle's environment, and determine, based on the one or more values, a net resultant force vector of one or more forces acting on a center of mass of the vehicle. The processor may further determine a relationship between the net resultant force vector and a stability polygon that is superimposed at a base of the vehicle, and determine whether to limit one or more of a speed, rate of change, and/or travel amount for one or more of the operational systems controlled by the processor based on the relationship between the net resultant force vector and the stability polygon. Other examples may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: Systems and methods can prevent or reduce jerk during operation of a materials-handling vehicle that is unloaded or carrying a load. The vehicle comprises one or more user input devices configured to receive from an operator a request to perform an action and a processor. The processor is configured to determine, before performing the action requested by the operator, a force acting on the load carried by the materials-handling vehicle as a result of the action requested by the operator. The processor determines whether the force would result in a jerk if the action is performed as requested. If it is determined that the force would result in a jerk, the action is modified so as to reduce the force. If it is determined that the force would not result in a jerk, the materials-handling vehicle performs the action as requested by the operator without modification to reduce the force.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems and methods associated with powered vehicles are disclosed herein. In examples, a system for controlling a vehicle may include sensors and a processor coupled to the sensors. The processor may identify one or more values received from the one or more sensors, wherein the one or more values are associated with one or more conditions of the vehicle and/or the vehicle's environment, and determine, based on the one or more values, a net resultant force vector of one or more forces acting on a center of mass of the vehicle. The processor may further determine a relationship between the net resultant force vector and a stability polygon that is superimposed at a base of the vehicle, and determine whether to limit one or more of a speed, rate of change, and/or travel amount for one or more of the operational systems controlled by the processor based on the relationship between the net resultant force vector and the stability polygon. Other examples may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: A survey unit is provided for collecting data related to load locations in a facility. The survey unit can include a plurality of visual and locational sensors configured to collect data related to locations of loads in the facility. The survey unit can be arranged in a box located on a pallet that can be easily transported by a forklift and easily moved between facilities without the need to move the forklift. The data collected by the survey unit can be processed to create a 3D locational map of load locations that can then be used by an AGV to automatically pick or drop loads in the surveyed facility.