SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USING HUMAN-OPERATED MATERIAL-TRANSPORT VEHICLES WITH FLEET-MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
There is provided a driver-support system for use with a human-operated material-transport vehicle, and methods for using the same. The system has at least one sensor, a human-vehicle interface, and a transceiver for communicating with a fleet-management system. The system also has a processor that is configured to provide a mapping application and a localization application based on information received from the sensor. The mapping application and localization application may be provided in a single localization-and-mapping (“SLAM”) application, which may obtain input from the sensor, for example, when the sensor is an optical sensor such as a LIDAR or video camera.
1 . A method of using a human-operated material-transport vehicle with a fleet-management system and a driver-support system comprising a processor, the human-operated material-transport vehicle comprising a pallet fork, comprising:
receiving a mission definition comprising one or more tasks from the fleet-management system;
planning a trajectory based on the mission definition;
during operation of the human-operated material-transport vehicle:
monitoring, using at least one of a human-vehicle interface and at least one sensor mounted to the human-operated material-transport vehicle, a task status of each task of the one or more tasks being conducted by the human-operated material-transport vehicle; and
detecting a forklift-proximity information associated with the pallet fork and operating the processor to perform collision-avoidance based on the forklift-proximity information; and
in response to detecting one or more of a change in a task status of at least one task and a potential collision at the pallet fork, updating the trajectory based at least on the task status and the potential collision.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein, during operation of the human-operated material-transport vehicle, receiving one or more user inputs from an operator providing task-related data via the human-vehicle interface.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein, during operation of the human-operated material-transport vehicle, determining at least one of a vehicle location or a vehicle velocity from sensor data generated by the at least one sensor.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the driver-support system is located within an industrial facility.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprises operating the processor to determine vehicle-proximity information associated with the human-operated material-transport vehicle.
6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprises operating the processor to perform collision-avoidance based on the vehicle-proximity information.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprises operating the processor to determine kinematics information associated with the human-operated material transport vehicle based on the trajectory.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprises receiving payload information comprising payload dimensions.
9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprises operating the processor to determine kinematics information associated with the human-operated material transport vehicle based on the trajectory and the payload information.
10 . A system for using a human-operated material-transport vehicle comprising a pallet fork, the system comprising:
a fleet-management system; and
a driver-support system comprising:
at least one sensor mounted to the human-operated material-transport vehicle;
a human-vehicle interface; and
a processor operable to communicate with the at least one sensor and the human-vehicle interface, the processor being operable to:
receive a mission definition comprising one or more tasks from the fleet-management system;
plan a trajectory based on the mission definition; and
during operation of the human-operated material-transport vehicle:
monitor, using at least one of the human-vehicle interface and the at least one sensor, a task status of each task of the one or more tasks being conducted by the human-operated material-transport vehicle; and
detect a forklift-proximity information associated with the pallet fork and operate the processor to perform collision-avoidance based on the forklift-proximity information; and
in response to detecting one or more of a change in a task status of at least one task and a potential collision at the pallet fork, updating the trajectory based at least on the task status and the potential collision.
11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is operable to:
receive one or more user inputs from an operator providing a task-related data via the human-vehicle interface.
12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is operable to:
determine at least one of a vehicle location or a vehicle velocity determined from sensor data generated by the at least one sensor.
13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the driver-support system is located within an industrial facility.
14 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to determine vehicle-proximity information associated with the human-operated material-transport vehicle.
15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the processor is configured to perform collision-avoidance based on the vehicle-proximity information.
16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to determine kinematics information associated with the human-operated material transport vehicle based on the trajectory.
17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is operable to receive payload information comprising payload dimensions.
18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the processor is configured to determine kinematics information associated with the human-operated material transport vehicle based on the trajectory and the payload information.