Abstract: A materials handling vehicle comprises an operator compartment, forks that can be raised and lowered to carry a load, a power unit, an outward facing output module, and a controller. The outward facing output module comprises an indicator directed away from an operators' compartment of the materials handling vehicle. In operation, the controller receives information from at least one of a remote server, and electronics of the materials handling vehicle, via a materials handling vehicle network bus, where the received information is in regard to a task being performed by the materials handling vehicle. Also, the controller, responsive to detecting the task being performed, operates the indicator of the outward facing output module to provide situational awareness information with regard to the task.

Abstract: An inclinometer and method for use in the same are disclosed herein. An example of such an inclinometer includes a substrate and a heater on the substrate. The inclinometer also includes a plurality of fluid passageways coupled to the substrate and configured to conduct fluid past the heater to an exit. The inclinometer additionally includes a. temperature sensor adjacent the exit which is configured to measure a temperature in each of the fluid passageways. The inclinometer may further include a processor coupled to the temperature sensor to receive the temperature measured in each of the fluid passageway's which is configured to determine an angle of inclination based on the measured temperatures. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium may store instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine the angle of inclination based on the measured temperatures.

Abstract: An inclination position sensor where, on a substrate on which wires are formed, plural electrodes electrically connected to the wires are disposed, a conductive ball that can simultaneously contact at least two of the plural electrodes is disposed, an enclosure that covers the plural electrodes and the conductive ball is disposed, and a circular arc is formed in places of the electrodes that contact the conductive ball.

Abstract: An inclination position sensor where, on a substrate on which wires are formed, plural electrodes electrically connected to the wires are disposed, a conductive ball that can simultaneously contact at least two of the plural electrodes is disposed, an enclosure that covers the plural electrodes and the conductive ball is disposed, and a circular arc is formed in places of the electrodes that contact the conductive ball.

Abstract: A tilt sensor contains a first electrically conductive element, a second electrically conductive element, an electrically insulative element, and either a plurality of electrically conductive weights, or a first electrically conductive weight and a non-conductive weight. The electrically insulative element is connected to the first electrically conductive element and the second electrically conductive element. In addition, the plurality of electrically conductive weights are located within a cavity of the tilt sensor, wherein the cavity is defined by at least one surface of the first electrically conductive element, at least one surface of the electrically insulative element, and at least one surface of the second electrically conductive element.

Abstract: A tilt sensor contains a first electrically conductive element, a second electrically conductive element, an electrically insulative element, and a plurality of electrically conductive weights. The electrically insulative element is connected to the first electrically conductive element and the second electrically conductive element. In addition, the plurality of electrically conductive weights are located within a cavity of the tilt sensor, wherein the cavity is defined by at least one surface of the first electrically conductive element, at least one surface of the electrically insulative element, and at least one surface of the second electrically conductive element.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring the angle of inclination of a surface or object with respect to the gravitational horizontal, having (1) an electric circuit with a homogeneous resistance curved to form a circumference, (2) a device or voltmeter to measure the voltage consumed by the resistance in its total length (VT), (3) another device or voltmeter to measure the voltage consumed by a portion of the resistance (VP) which length measured depends on one leg of the device/voltmeter fixed to one end of the resistance and the other leg of the device/voltmeter, with a weight and constant contact with resistance, moving due to the gravitational force as the circumference rotates on a horizontal axis, (4) a device that takes the voltages measured and outputs the inclination given by this formula [(VP:VT)*Scale].

Abstract: An orientation sensor includes variable resistance elements within the sensor, the variable resistance elements forming an electric circuit with a conductive ball or drop of conductive material. The resistance of the electric circuit uniquely identifies the orientation of the apparatus. A method of determining the orientation of an apparatus includes measuring the resistance of a circuit completed between two conductive members in the apparatus, and determining the position of a freely movable conductive member in the apparatus from the measured resistance.

Abstract: An orientation sensor includes variable resistance elements within the sensor, the variable resistance elements forming an electric circuit with a conductive ball or drop of conductive material. The resistance of the electric circuit uniquely identifies the orientation of the apparatus. A method of determining the orientation of an apparatus includes measuring the resistance of a circuit completed between two conductive members in the apparatus, and determining the position of a freely movable conductive member in the apparatus from the measured resistance.

Abstract: An orientation sensor especially suitable for use in an underground device is disclosed herein. This orientation sensor includes a sensor housing defining a closed internal chamber, an arrangement of electrically conductive members in a predetermined positional relationship to one another within the chamber and a flowable material contained within the housing chamber and through which electrical connections between the electrically conductive members are made such that a comparison between an electrical property, specifically voltage, of a first combination of conductive members to the corresponding electrical property of a second combination of conductive members can be used to determine a particular orientation parameter, specifically pitch or roll of the sensor.

Abstract: A arcuate resistive sensor element is imprinted upon a ceramic substrate forming a wall of a ceramic body in which an electrolyte, advantageously silver nitrate dissolved in a mixture of methanol, water and butanol, is sealed. To avoid the effects of electroplating, an AC exciting voltage is applied between the ends of the sensor element which is bridged by a discharge resistor whose resistance is much lower than the internal resistance of the sensor element so as to dissipate any polarization caused by asymmetry of the voltage supply. A signal output is taken from a midpoint of the sensor element which is always immersed in the electrolyte so that the effect of any leakage current is minimized. Linearity of output with change in the tilt angle achieved with an illustrative embodiment has been measured at better than 99.9% in tilt angle range of −50 to +50 degrees.