Zero-gravity hoist control

A hoist system, comprising:

• a battery pack powered hoist device;
• a load sensing assembly configured to determine a force of a load attached to the hoist device, the load sensing assembly positioned between the hoist device and a support or the load, the load sensing assembly including:
• a spring plate configured to deflect in a first direction when the force of the load increases,
• a first sensor configured to apply a first electrical signal to a first conductive surface associated with the spring plate, the first sensor including a first antenna configured to receive a signal from the first conductive surface, wherein the first electrical signal is dependent on a distance between the first antenna and the first conductive surface, and
• a sensor circuit configured to receive an input from the antenna representative of the distance between the first antenna and the first conductive surface.

A zero-gravity hoist system, comprising:

• a hoist;
• a motor coupled to the hoist, the motor configured to drive the hoist in one or more directions;
• a load sensing assembly configured to determine a force of a load attached to the hoist, the load sensing assembly positioned between the hoist and a support or the load, the load sensing assembly including:
• a spring plate configured to deflect in a first direction when the load increases,
• a first sensor configured to apply a first electrical signal to a first conductive surface associated with the spring plate, the first sensor including a first antenna configured to receive a signal from the first conductive surface, wherein the first electrical signal is dependent on a distance between the first antenna and the first conductive surface, and
• a sensor circuit configured to receive an input from the first antenna representative of the distance between the first antenna and the first conductive surface;
• a power supply configured to provide power to the motor;
• and
• a controller having one or more electronic processors, wherein the one or more electronic processors are configured to:
• receive a first force of the load from the load sensing assembly in response to receiving an input,
• store the received first force in a memory of the controller,
• receive a second force of the load from the load sensing assembly,
• determine a difference between the second measured force and the first measured force, and
• adjust a height of the load based on determining that the second force differs from the first force by a predetermined threshold.