Systems and methods for associating an operator with a vehicle
AssigneeHyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc.
InventorsNicholas M. Draayer, Ryan P. McDermott
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims22
A machine or vehicle (MV) system configured for communication with remote portable devices, the MV system comprising:
- a communication module configured to determine distances between a materials-handling vehicle and one or more portable devices;
- and
- a first logic configured to exclude a first portable device from a pedestrian detection function in response to classifying the first portable device as an operator device solely in response to determining a first distance by the communication module;
- wherein the first logic is further configured to monitor a proximity of the first portable device to a vehicle and determine whether to reclassify the first portable device for inclusion in the pedestrian detection function based on the monitoring.
A method comprising:
- monitoring a proximity of portable devices within a detection range of a communications module of a materials-handling machine, the monitoring comprising detecting signals transmitted by the portable devices;
- excluding a first portable device from a pedestrian detection function of the materials-handling machine in response to designating the first portable device as an operator device solely in response to determining a first proximity of the first portable device;
- and
- determining whether to redesignate the first portable device for inclusion in the pedestrian detection function based on the monitoring.
A portable device configured for communication with a machine or vehicle (MV) system, the portable device comprising:
- a communication module;
- and
- logic configured to cause the portable device to operate in a pedestrian mode, wherein operation in the pedestrian mode comprises configuring the communication module to broadcast a detection signal;
- wherein the logic is further configured to cause the portable device to transition to operation in an operator mode, wherein operation in the operator mode comprises configuring the communication module to terminate broadcast of the detection signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.