Altec Industries, Inc.

Systems, methods, devices, and assemblies for electrically insulating lower controls of a low voltage aerial device. The lower controls may include two or more electrically insulating components working concurrently to provide electrically insulating capabilities to electrically isolate one or more electrical cables or other electrically conductive components associated with the lower controls. For example, one or more electrical cables may communicate with an upper portion of the low voltage aerial device, such that the electrically insulating components break an electrical path to ground from the upper portion of the low voltage aerial device.

A composite body assembly and processes for creating the composite body assembly are described in embodiments of the disclosure. In some embodiments, the composite body assembly comprises an exterior frame comprising a continuous panel. The continuous panel may comprise a first skin, a second skin, and an inner core disposed between the first skin and the second skin. Furthermore, the continuous panel may be formed by a continuous manufacturing process comprising rolling the first skin and the second skin sandwiching the inner core. A double press controls the temperature and pressure forming the continuous panel. The continuous panel can then be cut and formed into an exterior frame of the composite body. Once the exterior frame is formed, partitions are provided, and doors are attached. Methods of hot plate welding provide a composite body that is entirely watertight with many components welded together to provide single-piece bodies.

An aerial lift platform includes a door having one or more insulating liner layers. The door of the aerial lift platform is tightly bonded to a rim of an opening of an aerial lift platform by at least one nonconductive fastener, such that the one or more insulating liner layers of the door are tightly bonded to at least one insulting liner of the aerial lift platform, such that a complete insulating liner is formed around both the aerial lift platform and the door. The one or more insulating liner layers of the door are able to be connected to one or more attachments via one or more nonconductive fasteners.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for establishing and utilizing virtual barriers for remotely operated equipment. Remotely operated equipment may be used to perform operations within a remote operating environment based on control inputs from an operator at a distinct location from the remote operating environment. The virtual barriers are established within a control system of the remotely operated equipment to alert the operator or modify operation based on proximity of the remotely operated equipment to the virtual barriers.

A control input apparatus for operating an aerial lift system includes a control lever assembly that has at least one control lever and at least one position sensor. The at least one position sensor may indicate a position and/or a movement of the at least one control lever. The control input apparatus additionally incudes a control input element actuatable over a movement range from a non-actuated position to a fully-actuated position, and at least one interlock sensor that releases an interlock corresponding to the control lever assembly upon the control input element being actuated at least to an actuation threshold position located between the non-actuated position and the fully-actuated position. Upon the control input element being actuated at least to the actuation threshold position, the control input apparatus provides control inputs corresponding to the position and/or the movement of the control lever indicated by the at least one position sensor.

A toe space module for elevating platforms, wherein the module wraps around the edges and bottom of the platform in order to transform tension stress into shear and compression stresses. Also, a platform with a toe space module attached, and method for manufacturing the platform and toe space module. Also, a combination toe space module and step, a platform with the combination toe space module and step, and methods for manufacturing the platform with the combination toe space module and step.

Systems, methods, devices, and computer-readable media for lanyard detection applications. A lanyard attachment assembly may include a moveable element configured to be displaced in response to attachment of a lanyard device such that one or more sensors detect the attachment. In response to one or more operator inputs, an alert may be generated if determined that a lanyard device is not attached.

Systems and methods for providing a virtual reality interface operable to control a robot system by an operator are disclosed. In some embodiments, the robot system is provided on a boom of an aerial device. The robot system is operable to carry out instructions for performing work-related tasks in a work environment. An operator may interact with a virtual reality system providing the virtual reality interface to operate the robot system. The virtual reality interface may provide various menus and icon features that, when selected, cause display of menus and functions of the virtual reality interface. The virtual reality interface may provide a list of tasks to be performed and instructions to perform those tasks. In some embodiments, the icon features are presented based on the tasks to be performed and selection of the icon features initiates automated actions of the robot system to perform certain tasks.

An integrally formed aerial support platform is described herein. The aerial support platform is formed from a thermoplastic composite including continuous reinforcement fibers, allowing the aerial support platform to be formed in one piece via compression molding, thereby decreasing the time and effort needed to produce each aerial support platform. An aerial support platform having increased longevity and increased stiffness-to-weight ratio is therefore produced. Furthermore, described is a process for producing an aerial support platform that substantially reduces the amount of volatile organic compound emissions and demonstrates improved recyclability when compared to traditional thermoset composite platforms.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for improved control of articulating boom assemblies are disclosed herein. Automated functions, such as auto ground and auto stow functions, may be provided to automatically move an articulating boom assembly to the desired position. When an automated function is requested, a series of waypoints may be generated, and the boom assembly may move a boom tip thereof through each of the series of waypoints. Using the machine geometry of the boom assembly and the pose of the boom assembly when the automated function is requested may enable the waypoints to be determined. The automated functions may enable the boom assembly to be moved faster than when manually operated and also eliminates the need for the operator to provide a series of complex inputs required to move each joint of the articulating boom assembly to reach the desired position.