Patent ID: 8103418

Claim:
A vehicle comprising: a. a frame having a longitudinal and axial direction and supported by at least one support assembly, b. a telescoping lift member extending generally in the longitudinal direction having a first end rotatably coupled to said frame and a free end to which an implement is attached; c. a first actuator for rotating the frame relative to said support assembly to bring the frame into a horizontal condition at least in an axial direction; d. a second actuator to control the length of said lift member; e. a third actuator to rotate the lift member relative to said frame; f. a sensor array comprising sensors that provide signals representative of the angle of the frame with respect to horizontal in at least a longitudinal and an axial direction, signals representative of the length of the lift member, signals representative of the incline of the lift member and signals representative of the position of the vehicle; and g. a controller that processes signals received from said sensor array and sends signals to at least said first, second and third actuators to ensure that the implement attached to the free end of the lift member does not contact an adjacent surface as the implement moves in a substantially vertical direction within a predefined range of motion.