Systems and Methods for Control of a Remotely Controllable Material Handling Vehicle

A system for a remotely controllable material handling vehicle operable in a manual mode where an operator can maneuver the material handling vehicle normally and a travel request mode where the operator can remotely request the material handling vehicle to move forward, the system comprising:

• a control handle configured to at least control a speed and direction of the material handling vehicle when the material handling vehicle is in the manual mode;
• an operator compartment sensor configured to provide a signal when a weight on a floor of an operator compartment of the material handling vehicle is greater than or equal to a predetermined weight;
• a remote control device in wireless communication with the material handling vehicle and including a travel control function configured to provide a first signal to the material handling vehicle to move forward;
• and
• a first mode switch for selecting an operation mode of the material handling vehicle and movable between a manual mode state and a travel request mode state, wherein the first mode switch is configured to selectively bypass the operator compartment sensor and is positioned on the material handling vehicle.

A method for switching an operation mode of a material handling vehicle from a manual mode to a travel request mode, the method comprising:

• evaluating a state of a first mode switch to determine if the first mode switch is in a manual mode state or a travel request mode state, the first mode switch positioned on a first lateral side of a frame of the material handling vehicle;
• interpreting at least one vehicle condition to determine if the at least one vehicle condition is appropriate for transitioning from the manual mode to the travel request mode;
• and
• upon the determination that the first mode switch is in the travel request mode state and the at least one vehicle condition is appropriate for transitioning from the manual mode to the travel request mode, enabling remote control operation of the material handling vehicle,
• wherein when the first mode switch is in the travel request mode state, an operator compartment sensor included on the material handling vehicle is removed from communication with the material handling vehicle.