Warehouse and logistics operations are to improve operational safety and efficiency with the specially developed driver assistance systems.

The new reverse speed system is patent pending. It is intended for indoor Yale electric forklift trucks. The driver assistance option is suitable for various industries. It is particularly useful for a high number of temporary or contract workers, for example in retail, e-commerce or 3PL. Installed next to the handle for reversing, a sensor detects when a hand is on the handle. If it is activated, the truck can reach full reverse speed. If not, it is limited to 2 km/h. With a hand on the handle, the driver tends to look in the direction of travel when reversing. This is an important standard in practice. This allows the driver to recognize pedestrians and objects in the path of travel. When the sensor is active, the forward speed is limited to 8 km/h so that the driver does not bypass the system.

"The reverse speed system keeps forklifts and operations running while increasing safety in the warehouse. This can contribute to greater efficiency and productivity," explains Yale marketing manager Robert O'Donoghue. "Certain applications can also benefit from the new dynamic pedestrian warning lights." The dynamic pedestrian warning lights are compact LED lights that can be fitted to the front and rear of most Yale electric forklift trucks. They are activated depending on the direction of travel and work in a similar way to spotlight pedestrian warning lights. However, they throw blue arrows onto the ground in dynamically adapted, repeating patterns with increasing flashing frequency. The visual warning signal shows pedestrians or other forklift drivers that a forklift truck is approaching and from which direction it is coming.

"In some fast-paced intralogistics applications, there are many pedestrians who could benefit from this solution," continues O'Donoghue. "It can be particularly useful in warehouse areas with blind corners and intersections or in unloading operations with suboptimal visibility." The driver assistance system reduces the risk of operational interruptions due to possible malfunctions and can therefore improve operational efficiency. In addition, the new option helps to minimize the risk of damage to goods and infrastructure and the associated costs. For outdoor use, selected Yale trucks with internal combustion engines can also be fitted with the pedestrian warning lights. However, the LED lights may not be visible in bright daylight.