Abstract: Materials-handling vehicles, such as counterbalanced lift trucks, can incorporate a counterweight that includes a frame, a cavity, and a sensor-mounting recess. The counterweight may be configured to provide an unobstructed horizontal line of sight of at least 180 degrees for a sensor, such as an object-detection sensor, that is mounted within the sensor-mounting recess. A lift truck can include a lift assembly comprising a mast and a pair of forks, an operator compartment comprising truck steering and speed controls, a plurality of wheels, an energy source, a counterweight comprising a frame and a sensor-mounting recess, and a sensor.

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: Real-time location systems and beacons are used to facilitate operating a materials-handling vehicle in compliance with rules of the road. Materials-handling vehicles may include a processor operably coupled to at least one vehicle system and a receiver communicatively coupled with the processor and configured to receive signals from a real-time location system and from one or more beacons that are located at known positions in an environment in which the vehicle operates. The vehicle is programmed to receive a signal from the real-time location system in response to entering a zone in the environment, communicate with a beacon associated with the zone, determine a position of the vehicle in the zone, and to perform at least one of modifying an operating characteristic of the vehicle system and operating the vehicle system based on the determined position of the vehicle and a rule of the road.