Described is a telehandler (1) equipped with at an electric propulsion motor and with several containment compartments (100) for housing means (200, 300) for powering the motor. A compartment (100) is provided with an access opening to allow a user to insert or extract a source of electricity (200, 300) included in the power supply means. A plurality of electric batteries (200) is made available, each designed to be inserted in one of the compartments (100). An electricity generator apparatus (300) is provided for insertion in one of the compartments (100). The telehandler (1) is equipped with the following alternative power supply configurations: a fully electrical configuration wherein the power supply means comprise only one or more electric batteries (200); and a hybrid configuration wherein the power supply means include the electricity generator apparatus (300).

A steer-by-wire control system adapted for use with a material handling vehicle such as a forklift includes a controller programmed to receive input indicative of a desired direction of travel of the material handling vehicle and to control an actuator coupled with the steered wheels of the material handling vehicle to change the direction of travel of the vehicle.

An engine-type industrial vehicle includes: an engine; a power transmission configured to transmit a driving force of the engine to a driving wheel; a controller configured to adjust the driving force; a travel direction determiner configured to determine a travel direction of the engine-type industrial vehicle; and an object detector configured to detect a position of an object in the travel direction of the engine-type industrial vehicle. The power transmission is switchable between a driving force transmission state and a driving force non-transmission state. The controller causes a state of the engine-type industrial vehicle to be in a travel start prohibition state, when the object detector detects the object and a detection direction of the object matches the travel direction, in a case where a vehicle speed of the engine-type industrial vehicle is equal to or less than a stop determination threshold.

A location determination system for a material handling vehicle operating near a charging node. The system may include a power receptor configured to receive power from the charging node and provide current to the material handling vehicle. The system may include a sensor electrically coupled to the power receptor and configured to measure the current provided by the power receptor, and a controller configured to determine a current profile based on the measured current and determine a distance of the power receptor to the charging node based on the current profile. The system may determine the distance of the material handling vehicle from the charging node and may determine the location of the material handling vehicle based on a predetermined location of the charging node. The system may comprise multiple power receptors each with a current profile and may determine a speed and/or direction based on the multiple current profiles.

A side shift control device for a forklift truck, which is configured to cause a side shift unit to move a pair of forks holding a pallet in a right-left direction so that the pallet comes in contact with an object when the pallet is placed beside the object, includes: a side shift control unit configured to control the side shift unit so that the pair of forks begin to move toward the object after the pair of forks are inserted into a pair of fork holes formed in the pallet; a detecting unit configured to detect a movement of the pallet with the forks inserted in the fork holes; and a determining unit configured to determine, based on the movement of the pallet detected by the detecting unit, whether the pallet is in contact with the object.

A machine stability detection and indication for a load moving machine. The machine has a chassis, a boom mount carried by said chassis, a boom assembly pivotally affixed to said boom mount, and a load carrying structure affixed to an end of said boom mount. The machine may be configured in a desired load handling geometry by manipulating components including a boom assembly, a pivot arm connected to said boom assembly, and forks. A control system for facilitating a selected configuration of said load handling geometry. Position sensors generate position data of the components. Pressure cylinders move the components and pressure sensors operatively located on one or more said pressure cylinders generate pressure data. A computer processes the position data and the pressure data for determining a load moment and for calculating a weight of a load being lifted by utilizing said pressure data and said position data.

Automated systems and methods for deployment of mounting tubs that support photovoltaic modules are provided in which a feeder assembly includes a screw thread assembly and a pivot arm. The screw thread assembly has at least one rotatable threaded component, and two such components in exemplary embodiments, positioned within the feeder assembly. The rotatable threaded component supports the stack of mounting tubs and rotates to separate the individual mounting tub from the stack of mounting tubs and lower the individual mounting tub onto the pivot arm. The pivot arm is configured to interact with an individual mounting tub and pivots to dispense the individual mounting tub onto a mounting surface. A sensor may be provided to detect the positions of the individual mounting tubs as they are moved, and a control system communicates with the sensor and the feeder assembly. The feeder assembly and a hopper holding the stack of mounting tubs may be mounted on an autonomous cart.

A method and apparatus for moving objects between locations using a moving apparatus coupled to a lifting device, such as a forklift. The moving apparatus is engageable with the lifting device when seated on a surface and is secured to the lifting device by a retaining assembly when the lifting device lifts the moving apparatus off the surface. The moving device includes a connector assembly which is used to retain or secure an object, article, or piece of equipment to the moving apparatus. The connector assembly may be any suitable hitch-type apparatus such as a standard ball hitch or a gooseneck hitch. In other embodiments, the connector assembly may include a platform which is rotatably mounted to a body of the moving apparatus. The platform defines a platform channel into which a portion of the object, article, or piece of equipment is received.

A transport device includes rollable elements configured to both support and move the transport device on a surface; and a drive mechanism for driving the rollable elements. A load bearing mechanism is movable between a lowered position adjacent to the surface and at least one raised position, and is supported by a support frame having a front wall, two side walls and an open back. The load bearing mechanism is mounted such that the side walls and front wall of the support frame extend around the load bearing mechanism. An actuator is mounted on one of the walls of the support frame for controllably raising and lowering the load bearing mechanism and the rollable elements are mounted adjacent to the side walls of the support frame and support the two side walls at four locations, such that a center of gravity is between the four locations.

A handling device (103) for loads (105) includes a radar transmitter (107), a radar sensor (111) and a data-processing device. The radar transmitter (107) is configured to irradiate at least part of the handling device (103) and/or the load (105). The radar sensor (111) is configured to detect at least part of the irradiated handling device (103) and/or the irradiated load (105). The data-processing device is configured to determine the position of at least part of the handling device (103) and/or the load 105) with reference to a signal from the radar sensor (111). At least a part (405) of the handling device (103) is radar-absorbing.