Aspects of this disclosure relate to a system that uses images of a load handled by a crane as captured by cameras to monitor the load. The images may include different sets of outer perimeters of the load. The system may identify the outer perimeters and then define a safety zone that extends beyond these outer perimeters. In response to identifying an object within the safety zone, the system may execute a remedial action.

A method for moving a load with a crane in a collision-free manner in a space having at least one obstacle includes providing a position of the obstacle, providing at least one safe state variable of the load, determining from the safe state variable a safety zone surrounding the load, and dynamically monitoring the safety zone in relation to the position of the obstacle.

Accordingly, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of coordinated safety interlocking systems and methods of coordinating safety interlocking. In an exemplary embodiment, a system for providing coordinated safety interlocking between a plurality of machines is disclosed. The system generally includes a plurality of machine control units each configured to control at least one of the plurality of machines. The system also includes at least one operator control unit configured to define a dynamic cluster including a subset of the plurality of machine control units. The at least one operator control unit is configured to control safety interlocking between each machine control unit in the dynamic cluster. The system may be used to provide coordinated safety interlocking between various elements and/or machines, such as crane bridges and crane hoists, etc.

A control unit of the crane controls drives that move an upper load suspension point and, together therewith, a load suspended via a cable system. As the upper load suspension point is moved, an inner safety zone around the load is repeatedly dynamically determined according to state variables of the crane. The state variables include at least a position and a speed of movement of the upper load suspension point, and an effective pendulum length of the load. The control unit checks, based on further known information whether an object different from the load has entered the inner safety zone, in which case the movement of the upper load suspension point is stopped or a message to stop the movement is outputted to an operator of the crane. Otherwise, the movement is maintained or no message to stop the movement is outputted to the operator.

A control unit of the crane controls drives that move an upper load suspension point and, together therewith, a load suspended via a cable system. As the upper load suspension point is moved, an inner safety zone around the load is repeatedly dynamically determined according to state variables of the crane. The state variables include at least a position and a speed of movement of the upper load suspension point, and an effective pendulum length of the load. The control unit checks, based on further known information whether an object different from the load has entered the inner safety zone, in which case the movement of the upper load suspension point is stopped or a message to stop the movement is outputted to an operator of the crane. Otherwise, the movement is maintained or no message to stop the movement is outputted to the operator.

Accordingly, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of coordinated safety interlocking systems and methods of coordinating safety interlocking. In an exemplary embodiment, a system for providing coordinated safety interlocking between a plurality of machines is disclosed. The system generally includes a plurality of machine control units each configured to control at least one of the plurality of machines. The system also includes at least one operator control unit configured to define a dynamic cluster including a subset of the plurality of machine control units. The at least one operator control unit is configured to control safety interlocking between each machine control unit in the dynamic cluster. The system may be used to provide coordinated safety interlocking between various elements and/or machines, such as crane bridges and crane hoists, etc.

A control unit of the crane controls drives that move an upper load suspension point and, together therewith, a load suspended via a cable system. As the upper load suspension point is moved, an inner safety zone around the load is repeatedly dynamically determined according to state variables of the crane. The state variables include at least a position and a speed of movement of the upper load suspension point, and an effective pendulum length of the load. The control unit checks, based on further known information whether an object different from the load has entered the inner safety zone, in which case the movement of the upper load suspension point is stopped or a message to stop the movement is outputted to an operator of the crane. Otherwise, the movement is maintained or no message to stop the movement is outputted to the operator,

A control unit of the crane controls drives that move an upper load suspension point and, together therewith, a load suspended via a cable system. As the upper load suspension point is moved, an inner safety zone around the load is repeatedly dynamically determined according to state variables of the crane. The state variables include at least a position and a speed of movement of the upper load suspension point, and an effective pendulum length of the load. The control unit checks, based on further known information whether an object different from the load has entered the inner safety zone, in which case the movement of the upper load suspension point is stopped or a message to stop the movement is outputted to an operator of the crane. Otherwise, the movement is maintained or no message to stop the movement is outputted to the operator,

The invention relates to a method for operating multiple cranes (1, 2), the movements of which are monitored for imminent collisions by anti-collision devices of the cranes, and to cranes comprising at least one movement device for moving a crane element, a control unit (13) for actuating the movement device, and an anti-collision device (17, 18) for monitoring the crane movements of the crane element for possible collisions with another crane. According to the invention, in the event of an imminent collision between a first crane (1) being operated and a second crane (2) which is not being operated, the first crane is stopped; a remote control connection (21) is established from the first crane to the second crane; the second crane is moved out of the collision region (130), which is interfering with an intended movement of the first crane, by means of control commands, which are provided at the first stopped crane and transmitted to the second crane by the remote control connection; the second crane is stopped after being moved out of the collision region by remote control; and the first crane is started up again so that the first crane can carry out its task.

Proposed are an OHT (overhead hoist transport) vehicle traction device and a method of managing an OHT system using same. The OHT vehicle traction device may solve problems of a driving-malfunction vehicle on the rails of an OHT system or tows the vehicle, and the method of managing the OHT system may increase the management efficiency of the entire OHT system by solving problems of a driving-malfunction vehicle or towing the vehicle in an unmanned type.