Patent ID: 8725362

Claim:
A materials handling vehicle capable of supplemental remote control comprising: a power unit for driving the vehicle; a load handling assembly that extends from the power unit; a receiver at the vehicle for receiving transmissions from a corresponding remote control device, the transmissions comprising at least a first type signal designating a travel request requesting the vehicle to travel; at least one contactless obstacle sensor on the vehicle that is operable to define at least two detection zones, each detection zone defining an area at least partially in front of a forward traveling direction of the vehicle when the vehicle is traveling under remote control in response to a travel request; a controller that communicates with the receiver and with a traction control system of the vehicle to operate the vehicle under remote control in response to receiving travel requests from the remote control device, wherein the controller receives information obtained from the at least one obstacle sensor and is configured to: perform a first action if the vehicle is traveling under remote control in response to a travel request and an obstacle is detected in a first one of the detection zones; and perform a second action different from the first action if the vehicle is traveling under remote control in response to a travel request and an obstacle is detected in a second one of the detection zones; and at least one presence sensor for detecting whether an operator is positioned on the vehicle, wherein the controller is further configured to operate the vehicle under remote control when the at least one presence sensor designates that no operator is on the vehicle.