WO2016159915A1

WO2016159915A1 - Forklift tracking system

Info

Publication number: WO2016159915A1
Application number: PCT/TR2016/050093
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ayşe KAYHAN
Original assignee: Still Arser İş Maki̇nalari̇ Servi̇s Ve Ti̇caret Anoni̇m Şi̇rketi̇
Priority date: 2015-03-31
Filing date: 2016-03-31
Publication date: 2016-10-06

Abstract

A vehicle tracking system (100) and a relevant application thereof, enabling users to access required live data in relation to vehicle (10) tracking instantaneously via an application access device (50) with internet access and perform monitoring and control of business processes, notifying the users when the limit values of the parameters predetermined in vehicles (10) according to user preferences are exceeded, and comprising an application server (40) converting the required data about the vehicle (10) into a form that the users can comprehend and enables users to get a mobile/web application service through the internet, and a vehicle tracking device (11 ) performing data exchange with said application server (40).

Description

FORKLIFT TRACKING SYSTEM

The Related Art

The invention relates to a forklift tracking system enabling process monitoring and access to data about forklifts on mobile and other internet media.

The invention particularly relates to a forklift tracking device having the characteristics such as instant access to live data needed about forklift tracking, providing monitoring and control of business processes, monitoring of conformation to work safety rules, and sending warnings to the user if certain limit values are exceeded in forklifts, and to a management system about this device. The Prior Art

Nowadays, there are companies that answer mass vehicle demands of enterprises for certain time periods according to service agreements. Said companies undertake maintenance and repair works, and tracking etc. activities of the vehicles they rent. Maintenance of the vehicles rented by rental companies is required to be made regularly.

Forklift suppliers are required to improve the variety, quality, and added value of the services they provide day by day in order to be able to meet the demands of the market. Suppliers, who used to sell only forklifts and spare parts, have now diversified their services with fleet leasing, second hand sales, operator leasing etc. new services. Even with the agencies and service networks being involved, management of these services have become much more complicated. The most significant problems are as follows:

• increase of communication costs and loss of time, since vehicle malfunctions are notified via phone or e-mail,

· intensive phone and email traffic causing the personnel to use their time inefficiently,

• preparing and putting the malfunction forms into process takes time,

• the procedures followed about the malfunction and the present situation cannot be monitored by everybody, transparency and trust problems due to no record being available about vehicle malfunctions, customer dissatisfaction due to prolonging of the process and inadequate informing, communication costs and loss of time, • reduction of expected lives of forklifts since vehicle maintenance is not recorded, increase of malfunctions, forklift history cannot be monitored, and battery maintenance cannot be tracked,

• spare parts approval procedures cannot be applied, and cost control cannot be ensured,

• realtime monitoring of forklift and battery location cannot be made, since forklift and battery tracking cannot be made,

• performance monitoring of operators cannot be made,

• the responsible operator cannot be determined in occurred accidents,

· problems are encountered in matching batteries and forklifts,

• it cannot be determined whether the damages are caused due to user error or not,

• loss of time and errors encountered since the common data used both by the operation and the finance system are entered into each system separately,

• loss of rent due to pending vehicles, since spare parts cannot be procured as a result of lack of effective stock tracking,

• insurance and work safety educations of the operators cannot be monitored,

• since the dealers cannot see the supplier's stocks of forklifts and spare parts, they cannot give clear information to the customer and cannot make reservation,

• duplicate sale problems occur, since the dealers getting spare parts and forklift orders from customers inform the customers after their communication with the main supplier,

• profitability monitoring of forklift fleet leasing projects cannot be made instantaneously, forklift based profitability analysis cannot be made, and thus problems cannot be examined at places where profitability is low,

• forklift insurances, demo forklift demands, and temporary forklift demands cannot be managed,

• work safety educations/trainings cannot be monitored,

· 3rd party and employer policies against occupational accidents cannot be monitored commonly by the forklift supplier and the insurance company,

• problems cannot be examined at places where profitability is low, (for instance; inadequate operator training, misuse, assigning wrong machine, use of wrong spare parts),

· forklift suppliers cannot make better and competitive pricing, • tracking of 2nd hand forklifts cannot be made in detail and instantaneously.

In the application No. 2007/07960, entitled: "A vehicle recognition and information system", encountered as a result of technical research relates to a vehicle tracking system, which transmits information to the centre via GPRS in case exhaust emission values are exceeded and a vehicle has a malfunction.

The application No. 2009/00663, entitled: "Vehicle information access and fleet management system in mobile media", encountered as a result of technical research, also relates to transmission of information to the centre via GPRS link, but the received information is limited.

As a result, the above said drawbacks and the inadequacy of the prior art solutions about the subject have necessitated an improvement in the related technical field.

Purpose of the Invention

The invention is formed with the inspiration from the prior art situations and aims to solve the above said problems.

The primary purpose of the invention is to increase efficiency of the whole forklift tracking process, improve service quality, ensure monitoring and control of work safety and trainings, and to provide a system which provides process management with the data for required measures about environmental pollution and savings.

The primary purpose of the invention is to develop a web-based forklift fleet and dealer management system recording the vehicle and spare parts sales, fleet leasing, maintenance, repair, and dealer management processes of forklift suppliers. The primary purpose of the invention is to provide a device and a method related to device, which enables users to access the situation information and report data of forklifts from anywhere on earth through internet connection, according to his/her authorizations provided with a user name and password. Another purpose of the invention is to inform the user if predetermined standard values are exceeded, by means of predetermined criteria, and prevent problems at places where forklifts are used by enabling the users to take action if a trouble is encountered in forklifts. The purposes of the invention can be listed as follows:

- ensure recording of all operational data in a single system,

- enable users to access the system anywhere and anytime through the internet within their authorizations and without the need for any local installation,

- eliminate communication costs and loss of time, since data are collected in a single source and are accessible,

- enable making smarter decisions for the future with the interpretation of the data collected in the system,

- ensure live monitoring of work processes and instant determination of difficult/bottleneck situations,

- ensure live monitoring of the battery statuses of the vehicles operating on site,

- ensure fast and safe automatic data exchange with other systems,

- ensure reduction of work process costs and improve their efficiencies,

- improve both worker and customer satisfaction,

- minimize battery revision costs via control of battery charges/discharges, which form the biggest cost for forklift producers,

- define as many as desired vehicle groups in terms of brand, model, forklift, battery type, numbers etc.,

- ensure live and retrospective monitoring and reporting of forklifts and batteries through satellites,

- determine misuses and uses that exceed the work safety limits in forklifts,

- accept calls, direct records, and make tracking on electronic media,

- provide company, dealer, and customer coordination,

- use up-to-date digital maps,

- provide dynamic reporting and analysis facility,

- provide an infrastructure supported by a navigation system,

- keep the working hour up-to-date, ensure automatic directing of maintenance orders to the centre for forklift maintenance, and thus prevent loss of time,

- ensure that the forklift users are registered in the system on a user basis and ensure control of operators according to legal daily working hours,

- enable remote intervention on electronic malfunctions formed on forklifts via the forklift tracking device, - by means of integrating the forklift tracking device and the battery tracking devices, ensure retrieving data from both devices at the same time,

- ensure that the information regarding which battery is used with the forklift is recorded.

The invention briefly provides facilities for:

• tracking the location and the final working location of the vehicle,

• tracking of crash/bump and shock information,

• tracking of the personnel using the vehicle by means of the driver card system, · defining more than one drivers by means of the master card application,

• stopping the operation of the vehicle remotely (blockage system),

• tracking the live operating hours data of the vehicle,

• tracking of planned maintenances according to the operating hours of the vehicle,

• recognizing the battery found on the vehicle,

· measuring the present voltage value of the battery found on the vehicle,

• online tracking

The structural and characteristic features of the invention and all of its advantages shall be understood better with the figures and the detailed description given below in reference to the figures, and therefore, the assessment should be made by taking into account the said figures and detailed explanations.

Figures for Better Understanding of the Invention Figure 1 shows the whole vehicle tracking system according to the present invention.

Figure 2 shows an exemplary way of connection of the vehicle tracking embodiment according to the present invention.

Drawings do not have to be scaled and details not necessary for understanding the present invention may be neglected. Moreover, components which are at least widely equal or which have at least widely equal functions are shown with the same number. Description of Parts References

100. Vehicle tracking system

10. Vehicle

1 1 . Vehicle tracking device

1 . Electric terminal

0. Supply input (VCC)

1 . Ground input (GND)

2. Control card inputl

.3. Control card input2

.4. Battery GND

.5. Battery 80 V

.6. Seat sensor inputl

.7. Seat sensor input2

.8. Battery CoiM input

.9. Battery Coil2 input

2. Control unit

3. GPS module

4. Memory unit

5. Communication unit

6. Analog to digital converter (ADC)

7. ID reader

8. Motion sensor

9. Control card

12. Battery

13. Seat sensor

14. Adapter

15. User label

16. Card reader

20. Satellite

30. Base station

40. Application server

50. Application access device ID - Identification information Detailed Description of the Invention

In this detailed description, the preferred embodiments of the invention are only disclosed for better understanding of the subject without forming any limiting effect.

The invention relates to a vehicle tracking system (100), which enables users to access required live data in relation to vehicle (10) tracking instantaneously via an application access device (50) with internet access (preferably a mobile device/phone or computer) and perform monitoring and control of business processes, notifies the users when the limit values of the parameters predetermined in the vehicles (10) according to user preferences are exceeded, and comprises an application server (40) converting the required data about the vehicle (10) into a form that the users can comprehend and enables users to get a mobile/web application service through the internet, and a vehicle tracking device (1 1 ) performing data exchange with said application server (40). The vehicle (10) disclosed in the invention is a forklift/electric pallet truck.

The invention relates to a vehicle tracking device (1 1 ) enabling instant access to malfunction, operator, battery (12), location, and operating time data, and impact, shock, or accident information of vehicles (10) through the internet, and a vehicle tracking system (100) comprising a relevant mobile/web application.

Figure 1 shows the vehicle tracking system (100) according to the present invention. In the most general sense, the vehicle tracking system (100) consists of at least one vehicle (10), a vehicle tracking device (1 1 ) found on said vehicle (10), an application server (40), and an application access device (50). The vehicle tracking device (1 1 ) uses the data it receives from the GPS satellites (20) orbiting the Earth. By using GPS data, the location of the vehicle (10) is determined, and this information is sent to the application server (40) through a GPRS/GSM (base station (30)) connection. The vehicle tracking device (1 1 ) can also perform data exchange with the application server (40) through the base station (30) (GPRS/GSM). The information sent by the vehicle tracking device (1 1 ) is stored in the application server (40) database (for reporting, later access, and making statistics etc. purposes).

On the mobile/web application side of the vehicle tracking system (100); the user opens the mobile/web application on an application access device (50) with internet access. With the user name and password, the user views the application within his/her predetermined authorization. The user connects to the application server (40) through this application that has a user interface. The application server (40) converts the data with different variable values sent by the vehicle tracking device (1 1 ) into a form that can be comprehended by the user. And the user views the data about vehicle (10) tracking on the user interface of the application.

The vehicle (10) comprises:

- a vehicle tracking device (1 1 ),

- at least one battery (12),

- a seat sensor (13) activating the vehicle tracking device (1 1 ) when the user/driver sits down on the seat, for security reasons (this may be a sensor to be placed on the ignition switch or the control lever in vehicles (10) that do not have a driver's seat),

- an adapter (14) converting the 220V AC mains voltage into 24V DC that is required for operation of the vehicle tracking device (1 1 ), and

- card reader (16) preferably an RFID and used for activation of the vehicle (10) by means of reading the user label (15) such as an RFID card of vehicle (10) operators, on which personal ID information is found (See Figure 2).

The vehicle tracking device (1 1 ) comprises:

an electric terminal (1 ) from which the cable outlet is made, and which provides connection of the adapter (14), battery (12), and the ID reader (7) antenna/coil to the vehicle tracking device (1 1 ),

- a control unit (2) comprising an ARM based processor and performing all communication, monitoring, control, and management works for operation of the device,

- a GPS module (3) enabling determination of vehicle (10) location,

- a memory unit (4) ensuring safety of data against possible energy or connection problems, in which the data to be sent to the application server (40) is stored in order to be sent when the connection is established,

- a communication unit (5) ensuring data exchange between the vehicle tracking device (1 1 ) and the application server (40) (preferably comprising a GPRS modem communicating through GSM/GPRS),

- an analog to digital converter (6) measuring the charge voltage of the battery (12) by being connected to the + and - terminals of the battery (12), - an ID reader (7) (preferably RF (radio frequency), 125 kHz characteristic) determining which battery (12) is mounted to the vehicle (10) by means of reading the ID information of the chips (tag-label) found at the + and - terminals of the battery (12),

- a motion sensor (8) detecting the crash, shock, impact, and accident situations and the speed of the vehicle (10),

- a control card (9) controlling whether the vehicle (10) has malfunction or not, and containing the information about malfunction record.

The vehicle tracking device (1 1 ) is a structure comprising external connection points such as 2 analog inputs, 2 digital inputs, 2 digital outputs, 1 RS232 serial port, 1 CAN BUS, GSM antenna connector, GPS antenna connector, and 1 card reader (16).

The vehicle (10) also comprises CAN BUS supported sensors, which enable remote determination of vehicle (10) malfunctions and intervention on the malfunctions

The inputs and outputs of said electric terminal (1 ) are as follows:

- Supply input (1 .0): It is the input, through which the required supply voltage is provided for operation of the vehicle tracking device (1 1 ). Supply of between 10V- 30V can be provided. It is connected to the adapter (14).

- Ground input (1 .1 ): It is the ground input of the circuit. It is connected to the ground of the adapter (14).

- Control card inputl (1 .2) and control card input2 (1 .3): They are the inputs, to which the control card (9) controlling whether the vehicle (10) has malfunction or not, and containing the information about malfunction record is connected. - Battery GND (1 .4): It is the output providing the connection of ADC (6) with the (-) terminal of the battery.

- Battery 80 V (1 .5): It is the output providing the connection of ADC (6) with the (+) terminal of the battery.

- Seat sensor inputl (1 .6) and seat sensor input2 (1 .7): They are the inputs, to which the seat sensor (13) that is short circuited when the user sits down on the seat is connected.

- Battery CoiM input (1 .8) and Battery (12) Coil2 input (1 .9): The ID reader (7) antenna/coil is connected to its terminal. It reads the ID (label/identification) information previously placed in the battery (12) terminals. With the ID information, the information of which battery (12) is connected to which vehicle (10) is obtained. This label is designed such that it can easily be removed and inserted into a new socket, when the battery (12) socket is damaged.

As a result, the vehicle tracking system (100) according to the invention enables the user to reach and track all of the below given information. These are:

- the data of which operator had worked between what hours, for how many hours, and for how many kilometres (within desired periods), which are obtained by the system formed of the card reader (16) and the user label (15),

- the location information of the vehicle (10),

- which battery (12) is used on vehicles (10), and where and for how many hours they are used,

- the charge voltage value of the battery (12) found on the vehicle (10),

- the vehicle (10) and the battery (12) serial number information while the battery (12) is being used on a vehicle (10),

- operator user information (analysis regarding usage characteristics and work safety),

- the information of the vehicle (10) regarding accident, crash and shock, impact, malfunction, and electrical connection/connection loss etc.,

- vehicle (10) speed information.

The vehicle tracking device (1 1 ) sends to the application server (40);

- device active information in short intervals, and

- malfunction information in case of a communication problem or malfunction, through the GSM/GPRS by means of the communication unit (5) comprising a GPRS modem.

The vehicle tracking device (1 1 ) can store information in the memory unit (4). if GSM/GPRS connection is not available, since the device stores operating data, it can send these data to the application server (40) as soon as the connection is established or the data can be retrieved by connecting to the device by other means (such as USB port, RS-232 port etc.).

The vehicle tracking device (1 1 ) is mounted on the vehicle (10). When desired, the device can be removed from a vehicle (10) and then mounted onto another one. The vehicle tracking device (1 1 ) can be mounted on all vehicles (10) without requiring different hardware or software. The vehicle tracking device (1 1 ) can be improved in terms of hardware and software in accordance with the possible change in future operational conditions.

The operation steps of the vehicle tracking system (100) are as follows:

- mounting of the vehicle tracking device (1 1 ) on the vehicle (10),

- the user activates the vehicle tracking device (1 1 ) when he/she sits down on the vehicle (10) seat via the seat sensor (13) sending a signal to the control unit (2),

- the user activates the vehicle (10) by means of inserting the user label (15) containing his/her ID information into the card reader (16),

- the control unit (2) determines the location by using GPS data coming from the satellites (20) orbiting the Earth, via GPS module (3),

- the ID reader (7) reads the ID information of the chips found at the battery (12) terminals,

- the control unit (2) determines the information regarding which battery (12) is mounted on which vehicle (10),

- the ADC (6) measures the charging voltage of the battery (12) in predetermined intervals,

- the ADC (6) sends the battery (12) charge voltage information to the control unit

(2),

- if communication link is not available, the control unit (2) saves the relevant vehicle (10) and/or user information and/or the location information into the memory unit (4) of the vehicle tracking device (1 1 ),

- if communication link is available, said control unit (2) sends the relevant vehicle (10) and/or user information and/or the location information to the application server (40) in predetermined intervals via the communication unit (5),

- the application server (40) saves the data sent by the vehicle tracking device (1 1 ) into the database,

- the application server (40) converts the data having different variable values sent by the vehicle tracking device (10) into a form that can be comprehended by the user,

- the user opens the application (web/mobile) on an application access device (50) with internet access (mobile device/computer phone tablet),

- the user connects to the application server (40) serving through the user interface, using his/her user name and password with the predetermined authorization of his membership, - the application server (40) transmits the data sent by the vehicle tracking device (1 1 ) and saved into the database to the user through the user interface,

- the application server (40) compares the limit values set for different variable values about the vehicles (10) and recorded in the database with the data sent by the vehicle tracking device (1 1 ),

- the application server (40) notifies the user if said limit values are exceeded (via email, message etc.).

Claims

A vehicle tracking system (100), enabling users to access required live data in relation to vehicle (10) tracking instantaneously via an application access device (50) with internet access and perform monitoring and control of business processes, notifying the users when the limit values of the parameters predetermined in vehicles (10) according to user preferences are exceeded, and comprising an application server (40) converting the required data about the vehicle (10) into a form that the users can comprehend and enables users to get a mobile/web application service through the internet, and a vehicle tracking device (1 1 ) performing data exchange with said application server (40), and it is characterized in comprising;

- a card reader (16) positioning on vehicle (10) and used for activation of the vehicle (10) by means of reading the user label (15) of users , on which personal ID information is found,

- at least one battery (12) comprising chips with ID information on its "+" and "-" terminals,

- a vehicle tracking device (1 1 ) mounted on the vehicle (10), comprising:

- an electric terminal (1 ) from which outlet of cables are provided,

a control unit (2) performing all communication, monitoring, control, and management works for operation of the device,

- a GPS module (3) enabling determination of vehicle (10) location,

- a communication unit (5) enabling data exchange with the application server (40),

an ID reader (7) determining which battery (12) is mounted on the vehicle (10) by means of reading the ID information of the chips found at the + and - terminals of the battery (12),

The vehicle tracking system (100) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that; said vehicle tracking device (1 1 ) comprises a memory unit (4), which ensures safety of the obtained data of the vehicle (10) against possible energy or connection problems, and in which the data to be sent to the application server (40) is stored in order to be sent when the connection is established.

3. The vehicle tracking system (100) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that; the communication unit (5) ensuring data exchange between said vehicle tracking device

(1 1 ) and the application server (40) comprises a GPRS modem communicating through GSM/GPRS.

4. The vehicle tracking system (100) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that; it comprises an adapter (14) converting the 220V AC mains voltage into 24V DC that is required for operation of the vehicle tracking device (1 1 ).

5. The vehicle tracking system (100) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that; said vehicle tracking device (1 1 ) comprises a motion sensor (8) detecting the crash, shock, impact, and accident situations and the speed of the vehicle (10).

6. The vehicle tracking system (100) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that; it comprises a seat sensor (13) activating the vehicle tracking device (1 1 ) when the user/driver sits down on the seat, for security reasons.

7. The vehicle tracking system (100) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that; said user label (15) and card reader (16) are RFID.

8. The vehicle tracking system (100) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that; said ID reader (7) is a radio frequency ID reader (7).

9. The vehicle tracking system (100) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that; said application access device (50) with internet access is a mobile device/phone, computer, or tablet.

10. The vehicle tracking system (100) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that; it comprises an analog to digital converter (6) measuring the charge voltage of the battery

(12) by being connected to the + and - terminals of the battery (12).

11. A vehicle (10) tracking application, enabling users to access required live data in relation to vehicle (10) tracking instantaneously via an application access device (50) with internet access and perform monitoring and control of business processes, and notifying the users when the limit values of the parameters predetermined in vehicles (10) according to user preferences are exceeded, and it is characterized in that; it comprises the operation steps of:

- mounting of the vehicle tracking device (1 1 ) on the vehicle (10),

- if communication link is not available, the control unit (2) saves the relevant vehicle

(10) and/or user information and/or the location information into the memory unit (4) of the vehicle tracking device (1 1 ),

- if communication link is available, said control unit (2) sends the relevant vehicle

(10) and/or user information and/or the location information to the application server (40) in predetermined intervals via the communication unit (5),

- the user opens the web/mobile application on an application access device (50) with internet access,

- the user connects to the application server (40) serving through the user interface, using his/her user name and password with the predetermined authorization of his membership,

- the application server (40) transmits the data sent by the vehicle tracking device

(1 1 ) and saved into the database to the user through the user interface,

- the application server (40) notifies the user if said limit values are exceeded.

12. The vehicle (10) tracking application according to Claim 1 1 , characterized in that; it comprises the operation steps of:

- the ADC (6) measuring the charging voltage of the battery (12) in predetermined intervals,

- the ADC (6) sending the battery (12) charge voltage information to the control unit (2) in predetermined intervals.

13. The vehicle (10) tracking application according to Claim 1 1 , characterized in that; following the operation step of mounting of the vehicle tracking device (1 1 ) on the vehicle (10),

- the user activates the vehicle tracking device (1 1 ) when he/she sits down on the vehicle (10) seat via the seat sensor (13) sending a signal to the control unit (2).

14. The vehicle (10) tracking application according to Claim 1 1 , characterized in that; said application access device (50) is a mobile device/phone, computer, or tablet with internet access.

15. The vehicle (10) tracking application according to Claim 1 1 , characterized in that; the data exchange between the vehicle tracking device (1 1 ) and the application server (40) is performed through GSM/GPRS networks via a GPRS modem.

16. The vehicle (10) tracking application according to Claim 1 1 , characterized in that; the user is notified by message and/or email if said limit values are exceeded.

17. The vehicle (10) tracking application according to Claim 1 1 , characterized in that; the vehicle tracking device (1 1 ) sends to the application server (40);

- device active information in short intervals, and

- malfunction information in case of a communication problem or malfunction.

18. The vehicle (10) tracking application according to Claim 1 1 , characterized in that; the live (up-to-date) data of said vehicle (10) are:

- the data of which operator had worked between what hours and for how many hours and for how many kilometres, which are obtained by the system formed of the card reader (16) and the user label (15).

19. The vehicle (10) tracking application according to Claim 1 1 , characterized in that; the live (up-to-date) data of said vehicle (10) are:

- which battery (12) is used on vehicles (10), and where and for how many hours they are used, and

- the charge voltage value of the battery (12) found on the vehicle (10).

20. The vehicle (10) tracking application according to Claim 1 1 , characterized in that; the live (up-to-date) data of said vehicle (10) are:

- the usage characteristics of the user and the analysis information regarding work safety,

- the vehicle (10) speed information, and the information of the vehicle (10) regarding accident, crash and shock, impact, malfunction, and electrical connection/connection loss etc., retrieved from the motion sensor (8) and the control card (9).