Vehicle alignment systems for loading docks

Abstract

Example vehicle alignment systems for use at loading docks are disclosed herein. An example vehicle alignment system includes a first arm extending a first distance from a wall of the loading dock, where the first arm is positioned adjacent a first lateral edge of a doorway of the loading dock. A first sensor is coupled to the first arm, where the first sensor is directed substantially perpendicular relative to a longitudinal axis of the first arm. The first sensor is to detect a first lateral distance between the first sensor and a first side surface of the vehicle. The first sensor to provide a first feedback signal representative of the first lateral distance. A second arm extends a second distance from the wall of the loading dock, where the second arm is positioned adjacent a second lateral edge of the doorway of the loading dock opposite the first lateral edge. A second sensor is coupled to the second arm, where the second sensor is directed substantially perpendicular relative to a longitudinal axis of the second arm. The second sensor is oriented toward the first sensor, the second sensor to detect a second lateral distance between the second sensor and a second side surface of the vehicle opposite the first side surface. The second sensor is to provide a first feedback signal representative of the second lateral distance.

1 . A vehicle alignment system to monitor an alignment of a vehicle at a loading dock the vehicle alignment system comprising:
 a first arm extending a first distance from a wall of the loading dock, the first arm being positioned adjacent a first lateral edge of a doorway of the loading dock;   a first sensor coupled to the first arm, the first sensor being directed substantially perpendicular relative to a longitudinal axis of the first arm, the first sensor to detect a first lateral distance between the first sensor and a first side surface of the vehicle, the first sensor to provide a first feedback signal representative of the first lateral distance;   a second arm extending a second distance from the wall of the loading dock, the second arm being positioned adjacent a second lateral edge of the doorway of the loading dock opposite the first lateral edge;   a second sensor coupled to the second arm, the second sensor being directed substantially perpendicular relative to a longitudinal axis of the second arm, the second sensor being oriented toward the first sensor, the second sensor to detect a second lateral distance between the second sensor and a second side surface of the vehicle opposite the first side surface, the second sensor to provide a first feedback signal representative of the second lateral distance; and   a controller to compare the first feedback signal and the second feedback signal to a reference to determine if an alignment of the vehicle relative to the reference is within an alignment threshold.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein to compare the first feedback signal and the second feedback signal to the alignment threshold, the controller is to determine a difference between the first feedback signal and the second feedback signal. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment threshold is approximately between 0.1 inches and 12 inches. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is positioned adjacent a first lateral side of a doorway and the second sensor is positioned adjacent a second lateral side of the doorway. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are positioned outside a perimeter defined by a doorway of the loading dock. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is oriented toward the second sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle alignment system of  claim 1 , further including a display to vary an output signal in response to determining the alignment between the at least one of the first side surface or the second side surface and the reference being outside the alignment threshold. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle alignment system of  claim 7 , wherein the display is to vary a blinking frequency of a light of the display in response to an extent to which a lateral orientation of the vehicle deviates from the alignment threshold. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle alignment system of  claim 8 , wherein the display is to vary in color a light of the display in response to an extent to which a lateral orientation of the vehicle deviates from the alignment threshold. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first lateral distance and the second lateral distance is a horizontal distance. 
     
     
         11 . A vehicle alignment system to monitor an alignment of a vehicle at a loading dock, the vehicle alignment system comprising:
 a first sensor cantilevered from a wall of the loading dock via a first arm, the first sensor to measure a first horizontal distance between the first sensor and a first point of the vehicle when the vehicle approaches the loading dock;   a second sensor cantilevered from the wall of the loading dock via a second arm, the second sensor being oriented toward the first sensor such that the second sensor faces the first sensor, the second sensor to measure a second horizontal distance between the second sensor and a second point of the vehicle different than the first point, the first sensor to provide a first feedback signal representative of the first horizontal distance and the second sensor to provide a second feedback signal representative of the second horizontal distance; and   a controller to compare the first feedback signal and the second feedback signal to an alignment reference to determine an alignment deviation of the vehicle relative to a reference in response to the vehicle moving toward the loading dock; and   a display to vary an output signal in response to determining the alignment deviation between the at least one of the first feedback signal or the second feedback signal and the reference being greater than an alignment threshold.   
     
     
         12 . The vehicle alignment system of  claim 11 , wherein the first point is located on a first side surface of the vehicle and the second point is located on a second side surface of the vehicle opposite the first side surface. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle alignment system of  claim 12 , wherein the first sensor is positioned adjacent a first lateral edge of a doorway defined by the loading dock and the second sensor is positioned adjacent a second lateral edge of the doorway opposite the first lateral edge. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle alignment system of  claim 12 , wherein the controller compares the first feedback signal and the second feedback signal to an alignment threshold to determine a lateral orientation of the vehicle relative to the reference. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle alignment system of  claim 11 , wherein the first point and the second point are located on a first side surface of the vehicle, the first point being spaced from the second point. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicle alignment system of  claim 15 , wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are positioned adjacent a first lateral edge of a doorway defined by the loading dock. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle alignment system of  claim 15 , wherein the controller compares the first feedback signal and the second feedback signal to an alignment threshold to determine an angular orientation of the vehicle relative to the reference. 
     
     
         18 . A method for monitor an alignment of a vehicle at a loading dock, the method comprising:
 measuring, via a first sensor projecting a first distance from a wall of the loading dock via a first arm and oriented substantially perpendicular relative to a longitudinal axis of the first arm, a first horizontal distance between the first sensor and a first point of the vehicle;   measuring, via a second sensor projecting a second distance from the wall of the loading dock via a second arm and oriented substantially perpendicular relative to a longitudinal axis of the second arm such that the second sensor faces the first sensor, a second horizontal distance between the second sensor and a second point of the vehicle different than the first point;   receiving, via a controller, a first feedback signal representative of the first horizontal distance provided by the first sensor;   receiving, via the controller, a second feedback signal representative of the second horizontal distance provided by the second sensor; and   determining, via a controller, an alignment deviation of the vehicle relative to a reference in response to the vehicle moving toward the loading dock by comparing the first feedback signal and the second feedback signal to an alignment threshold.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein measuring the first horizontal distance includes measuring a distance between the first point located on a first side surface of the vehicle and measuring the second horizontal distance includes measuring the second point located on a second side surface of the vehicle opposite the first side surface. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein measuring the first horizontal distance includes measuring a distance between the first point located on a first side surface of the vehicle and measuring the second point located on the first side surface of the vehicle adjacent the first point. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the comparing the first feedback signal and the second feedback signal to the alignment threshold includes determining a difference between the first feedback signal and the second feedback signal and comparing the determined difference to the alignment threshold.