US 12,394,312 B2
Systems and methods for facilitating materials-handling vehicle operational compliance
Nicholas M. Draayer, Portland, OR (US); and Ryan P. McDermott, Fairview, OR (US)
Assigned to Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc., Fairview, OR (US)
Filed by Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc., Fairview, OR (US)
Filed on Sep. 1, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/464,467.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/073,680, filed on Sep. 2, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0068131 A1, Mar. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. G08G 1/0967 (2006.01); B60W 30/14 (2006.01)
CPC G08G 1/096766 (2013.01) [B60W 30/143 (2013.01); B60W 2555/60 (2020.02); B60W 2556/45 (2020.02)] 33 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A materials-handling vehicle for use in an environment and for use with a real-time location system that is configured to track locations of materials-handling vehicles within the environment, wherein the environment comprises multiple zones established by the real-time location system, and wherein the environment comprises multiple beacons having respective fixed locations in the environment and permanently associated with the multiple zones respectively, the vehicle comprising:
a processor in the materials-handling vehicle and operably coupled to a vehicle system; and
one or more receivers, in or on the materials-handling vehicle and communicatively coupled with the processor, configured to receive signals from the real-time location system and from the beacons;
wherein the materials-handling vehicle is configured to receive a signal from the real-time location system in response to entering a particular zone in the environment, wherein the signal identifies one or more chosen beacon with which the materials-handling vehicle should communicate;
wherein the materials-handling vehicle is further configured to communicate, in response to receiving the signal from the real-time location system, with one or more of said at least one of the one or more chosen beacons;
wherein the materials-handling vehicle is further configured to determine, in response to communicating with one or more of said at least one of the one or more chosen beacons, an applicable rule of the road; and
wherein the materials-handling vehicle is further configured to perform at least one of (i) modifying an operating characteristic of the vehicle system and (ii) operating the vehicle system based on the applicable rule of the road.