Systems and methods of remotely controlling a materials handling vehicle

A method of operating a supplemental remote control system for a materials handling vehicle comprising:

• providing a materials handling vehicle comprising a power unit including at least one wheel and a load handling assembly including a pair of forks;
• providing a wearable wireless remote control device that is donned by an operator interacting with said materials handling vehicle, said wearable wireless remote control device having a wireless transmitter and a travel control communicably coupled to said wireless transmitter, wherein actuation of said travel control causes said wireless transmitter to wirelessly transmit a travel request as a first type signal requesting said vehicle to advance in a first direction;
• providing a receiver associated with said vehicle for receiving transmissions from said wireless transmitter at said vehicle;
• and
• providing a controller associated with said vehicle that is communicably coupled to said receiver and to a traction control system of said vehicle, said controller being responsive to receipt of said first type signal by said receiver, wherein said controller:
• evaluates at least one vehicle condition;
• decides whether to implement said travel request based upon the evaluation of said at least one vehicle condition;
• and
• causes said traction control system to advance said vehicle if said controller decides to implement said travel request based upon the evaluation of said at least one vehicle condition.

A supplemental remote control system in combination with a materials handling vehicle comprising:

• said materials handling vehicle comprising a power unit including at least one wheel and a load handling assembly including a pair of forks;
• and
• said supplemental remote control system comprising:
• a wearable wireless remote control device that is donned by an operator interacting with said materials handling vehicle, said wearable wireless remote control device comprising:
• a wireless transmitter;
• and
• a travel control communicably coupled to said wireless transmitter, wherein actuation of said travel control causes said wireless transmitter to wirelessly transmit a travel request as a first type signal requesting said vehicle to advance in a first direction;
• a receiver associated with said vehicle for receiving transmissions from said wireless transmitter at said vehicle;
• a controller associated with said vehicle that is communicably coupled to said receiver and to a traction control system of said vehicle, said controller being responsive to receipt of said first type signal by said receiver;
• at least one sensor communicably coupled to said controller, each said at least one sensor configured to detect the presence of an object located proximate to said vehicle;
• and
• wherein said controller communicates with a brake control system associated with said vehicle to brake said vehicle to a stop if said vehicle is moving under wireless remote control in response to receipt of said first type signal and at least one sensor indicates the detection of an object in the travel path of said vehicle.

A method of operating a supplemental remote control system for a materials handling vehicle comprising:

• providing a materials handling vehicle comprising a power unit including at least one wheel and a load handling assembly including a pair of forks;
• providing a wearable wireless remote control device that is donned by an operator interacting with said materials handling vehicle, said wearable wireless remote control device having a wireless transmitter and a travel control communicably coupled to said wireless transmitter, wherein actuation of said travel control causes said wireless transmitter to wirelessly transmit a travel request as a first type signal requesting said vehicle to advance in a first direction;
• providing a receiver associated with said vehicle for receiving transmissions from said wireless transmitter at said vehicle;
• providing a controller associated with said vehicle that is communicably coupled to said receiver and to a traction control system of said vehicle, said controller being responsive to receipt of said first type signal by said receiver;
• providing at least one sensor communicably coupled to said controller, each said at least one sensor configured to detect the presence of an object located proximate to said vehicle;
• and
• wherein said controller communicates with a brake control system associated with said vehicle to brake said vehicle to a stop if said vehicle is moving under wireless remote control in response to receipt of said first type signal and at least one sensor indicates the detection of an object in the travel path of said vehicle.