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As part of an automatic warehousing system, Sensor-Technik was asked to devise an absolute position sensing system for computer-controlled forklift trucks. The sensor system had to form a closed loop control system for the forklift truck motor to compensate for overshoot, and security interlocks were also essential for the safe operation of the system.
Sensor-Technik designed a CANbus system with an absolute position encoder mounted directly on the motor of each forklift truck. This meant that the interface to the warehouse mainframe computer was simplified, and information could be easily sent to all forklifts at once.
One of the most difficult aspects of the system hardware was in mounting the encoder in the restricted space available without compromising airflow to the motor. Sensor-Technik solved this problem by modifying the cable entry and connections.
The CANbus communications system provided a high degree of reliability and assured the integrity and safety of the system, and this proved to be the the key to making the automated positioning system possible.
