IFOY Audit
Finalists undergo the three-stage IFOY Audit as part of the IFOY Audit, which takes place during the TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS. This consists of the scientific IFOY Innovation Check, the IFOY Test and the jury test.
Ergonomic deadman alternative DPS
UniCarriers Europe AB
Whilst all forklifts utilise the dead-man feature to ensure safety levels for the operator, they also have a direct influence on the safety of equipment and pedestrians in the working area.
In a forklift where the operator sits in a fixed position, it is correct that features such as a dead-man switch, button, pedal or joystick are in the correct position to ensure guaranteed safety and easy use.
No matter how often drivers are told to simply place their foot on top of the button without adding extra pressure, operators still press just that little bit more when they know that his/her foot must be used to depress a dead-man button.
At the end of a working shift this often means that the leg used for pressing the dead-man button is more fatigued and sometimes aches.
In an order picking truck with a wide working platform area, there are different working parameters. These can be adversely influenced by features such as a dead man pedal that is in a fixed location and can cause hindrance.
The objective in developing the new range of UniCarriers order pickers was to provide the required safety features but to do so in a way that did not make the operator do anything that was un-natural or uncomfortable. In order to avoid this all UniCarriers order pickers are equipped with the ergonomic dead man alternative DPS (driver presence sensors). These floor sensors are the most efficient and comfortable method of employing all safety requirements.
Product name and company
Ergonomic deadman alternative DPS – UniCarriers Europe AB
Category
Special of the Year
Description
Innovations
Market relevance
Customer benefits
Test report
With the development of the new order picker, UniCarriers set itself the goal of realising the safety functions for the dead man’s switch in such a way that there are no unnatural or uncomfortable positions that have to be adopted by the operator. This led to the development of the ergonomic dead man’s switch system called “DPS” (Driver Presence Sensors). The high degree of standardisation of the parts improves their availability and also allows their use in multiple truck types.
The sensors used cover the entire floor area and therefore offer an efficient and convenient method of complying with all safety requirements.
The soft, sprung floor plate covered by a thick rubber mat makes for a comfortable workplace. The floor sensors recognise based on the weight whether an operator is in place. The device is activated as soon as the operator enters the truck. The truck then turns itself off if the operator steps off the floor sensor.
The device has to be calibrated on a daily basis for safety reasons. For this purpose, the driver has to step off the floor area once and then back on again. The truck recognises the motion and calibrates itself.
The comfortable position of the order picker may also result in better performance. There is, however, also the question of whether drivers actually do exert additional pressure on conventional dead man’s switches in practice. In terms of structure and functionality, the DPS is also similar to existing solutions of the type used in low-level order picking trucks of other makes, for example
As the DPS is always active, the operator can move freely regardless of how his or her feet are positioned, and this certainly makes for a more pleasant feeling.
IFOY test verdict
The Driver Presence Sensor (DPS) as an ergonomic alternative to a dead man’s switch can be activated from virtually any position without restricting the freedom of movement of the operator. The platform is comfortable thanks to the thick rubber mat.
IFOY Innovation Check
Market Relevance
The ergonomic DPS dead man’s switch from UniCarriers Europe is an alternative to the switches that are currently used in material handling equipment. Where dead man’s switches are not connected to another device (such as a contact switch underneath the seat which reacts to weight), the vehicle operators often have to activate a separate switch, often using their foot. Even if only a low amount of pressure is required, the operators of the vehicles frequently apply too much pressure, with the result that they experience faster fatigue or even pain in the foot or leg in question. UniCarriers has therefore developed an alternative concept in which a contact plate is integrated in the floor panel of the work platform. Once it has been calibrated, all the operator has to do is stand on this plate. This means the operator enjoys far greater freedom of movement than with a rigid switch set-up and does not have to deliberately activate a switch. Changes of direction are also possible with this concept without any problem.
The version developed by UniCarriers could be used in all warehouse trucks with dead man’s switch in which the operator works from a standing position. Market relevance exists and is to be rated as “good”.
Customer Benefit
The customer benefit is that it provides vehicle operators with a more ergonomic version of a dead man’s switch. There is no one-sided strain on the operator, who also no longer feels the need to actively push a switch and is therefore no longer “encouraged” to press down too hard on such a switch. Overall, the promised customer benefit is to be rated as “good”.
Degree of Novelty
Dead man’s switches are an important safety device in various different areas. There are already many types on the market, and many of them are also ergonomically designed (such as the contact switch in the seat). The use of a floor sensor is not a new feature and is already present in other IFOY vehicles without any special reference being made to such a feature. The degree of innovation is therefore assessed as minor.
Functionality / Type of Implementation
The function is apparently implemented as described but would have to be suitably calibrated to ensure reliable functioning so that it would be possible to actually test the extent to which it works. This was not possible within the context of the Innovation Check.
| Functionality / type of implementation | Ø |
| Novelty / Innovation | – |
| Customer benefits | + |
| Market relevance | + |
| ++ very good / + good / Ø balanced / – less / — not available | |
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Image/video credits: UniCarriers Europe AB
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Committees
The International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year has three bodies: Jury, sponsors, and advisory board.