Patent ID: 7980352
Filing Date: 2011-07-19
Classification: B60W,B66F

Abstract:
1. A materials handling vehicle comprising: a frame comprising an operator's compartment and a sensor capable of generating a signal indicative of an operator entering said operator's compartment; wheels supported on said frame; a traction motor coupled to one of said wheels to effect rotation of said one wheel; a steer-by-wire system associated with a steerable wheel to effect angular movement of said steerable wheel about a first axis, said steer-by-wire system comprising: control apparatus coupled to said sensor to receive the signal from said sensor indicative of an operator entering said operator's compartment, coupled to said control handle to receive said steer control signal, coupled to said steer motor to generate a first drive signal to said steer motor in response to said steer control signal from said control handle to effect angular movement of said steerable wheel about the first axis, coupled to said traction motor to generate a second drive signal to said traction motor, and coupled to said tactile feedback device to generate said tactile feedback device signal; and said control apparatus increasing said tactile feedback device signal in response to an operator entering said operator's compartment to inhibit an operator from making a quick turn request via said control handle.