An object-sensing bumper extension comprises a durable and flexible material. The bumper extension is connected to the bumper of a vehicle such as a lift truck to detect encroachment and/or impact between the vehicle and an operator or other object. A non-contact sensor detects encroachment of an object within an impact danger zone arranged immediately in front of and near the sides of the vehicle. An impact sensor detects impact between the vehicle and an object. A control system receives sensor signals and initiates a reaction operation of the vehicle in response to sensor activity. The reaction operation can include slowing the vehicle down, stopping the vehicle, and/or reversing the vehicle. The bumper extension can include a plurality of outwardly angled, substantially parallel ridges that deform outwardly and downwardly to push an impacted object away from danger and to fill a gap between the vehicle and the ground.

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 forklift truck includes a main controller, a driving motor, a drive controller, and an object detector. The drive controller controls the driving motor. The object detector detects the position of an object being present in the backward direction of the forklift truck. The main controller derives an expected trajectory of the forklift truck. The main controller imposes a speed limit on the forklift truck by setting a vehicle speed upper limit when the object detected by the object detector is located within the expected trajectory and the forklift truck is traveling in the direction of approaching the object. The main controller gives commands to the drive controller to prevent the vehicle speed of the forklift truck from exceeding the vehicle speed upper limit.

In embodiments, an automatic guided vehicle includes a vehicle, a lift unit, a bumper, an extension detector, and a bumper controller. The vehicle is movable in at least a first direction. The lift unit is provided in the vehicle and lifts an object from below the object. The bumper is provided in the vehicle and is extendable and contractible in the first direction. The extension detector detects that the bumper has extended outward from the object in the first direction. The bumper controller controls a state of the bumper according to a conveyance state of the object by the vehicle.

A vehicle-initiated cadenced operator interaction system introduces an operational concept to a vehicle operator via a machine-initiated interaction. Thereafter, interaction is initiated by the industrial vehicle according to a cadence that provides a gap between interactions so that the operator can demonstrate the behavior associated with the introduced concept. Industrial vehicle data associated with the content of the interaction(s) is analyzed and evaluated against pre-defined operational criteria to determine whether the operator is demonstrating the appropriate skill/behavior associated with the interaction(s). Responsive to the operator's demonstrated ability, the system can modify operation of the vehicle to tune the industrial vehicle to the operator. The system can also extend to the operating environment, by interacting with electronic devices, vehicles, machines, etc., in the operating environment to tune the environment to the operator.

A travel control device includes: a risk level calculation unit configured to acquire a speed in a traveling direction of a vehicle, a speed of the vehicle in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the traveling direction, and an azimuth angular velocity of the vehicle and calculate a rollover risk level based on a lateral load transfer ratio (LTR) of the vehicle; a deceleration calculation unit configured to calculate deceleration indicating an extent to which to lower the speed in the traveling direction when an absolute value of the rollover risk level exceeds a threshold value; and a control unit configured to control a driving system of the vehicle using a value obtained by lowering a target speed of the vehicle on the basis of the deceleration as a new target speed.

A method for dealing with obstacles in an industrial truck, including detecting a current speed and a current steering angle of at least one steered wheel of the industrial truck using a speed sensor or a steering angle sensor. The method also includes calculating a protection zone based on the current speed and the current steering angle and evaluating data supplied by the at least one sensor unit within the protection zone. Responsive to detecting an obstacle in the protection zone, the method includes calculating a specific steering angle difference on a right side and a left side, the specific steering angle difference being such that collision with the obstacle is avoided on the respective side and one or more of, based on the calculated right side and left side steering angle differences, classifying a current degree of difficulty in avoiding obstacles or triggering a predetermined action.

Provided are systems and methods for enclosing an energy source of a material handling vehicle. The systems and methods include an enclosure having a front wall, a rear wall, and an interior compartment, an inlet channel integrally formed with the front wall and in fluid communication with the interior compartment, the air inlet channel defined by an inlet louver and an inlet flange, an outlet channel integrally formed with the rear wall and in fluid communication with the interior compartment, the air outlet channel defined by an outlet louver and an outlet flange, one or more energy source cells positioned within the interior compartment; and a cooling fan in fluid communication with the inlet channel and the interior compartment. The cooling fan operates to draw air through the inlet channel to the interior compartment such that air within the interior compartment is expelled out of the outlet channel.

A vehicle speed control device for an industrial vehicle is configured to control a vehicle speed of the industrial vehicle. The vehicle speed control device includes an operation detector that is configured to detect whether an accelerator pedal is being operated and a controller that is configured to control the vehicle speed of the industrial vehicle by controlling the rotation speed of the engine. The controller is configured to derive a vehicle speed limit value that increases during an operated state of the accelerator pedal and decreases during a non-operated state of the accelerator pedal, and set an upper limit value of the vehicle speed to the derived vehicle speed limit value.

A center of gravity estimation device includes a tilt cylinder pressure sensor detecting a pressure on a rod side of the tilt cylinder, a tilt cylinder pressure sensor detecting a pressure on a bottom side of the tilt cylinder, a lift cylinder pressure sensor detecting a pressure of a lift cylinder, and an electronic control unit performing estimation calculation of a center of gravity of a cargo W loaded on a fork using the pressure on the rod side of the tilt cylinder, the pressure on the bottom side of the tilt cylinder, the pressure of the lift cylinder, and data on a structure of a cargo handling device.