Jean-Christophe Duc (asker) Aug 7, 2023:

@all Thanks for your help on this.
As mentioned I have been given very little info, and have (it goes without saying) asked the client for more context.
All I have been told so far is that it relates to battery control software for forklifts, pallet stackers and similar.

Daryo Aug 6, 2023:

Texts are not "just words" ... they can have have very real consequences in real life.

I remember someone proposing dead serious to translate a linguistically ambiguous instruction in a safety manual by:

"position yourself downwind from the source of poisonous fumes."

About as good an idea as "walking" next to a loaded forklift.

BTW a "Pallet Stacker" is not a forklift - the bestiary for that particular jungle is not so simple.

Back to this text: we simply don't enough enough to be sure.

Finding on the Web similarly sounding texts in is neither here nor there - so far there's nothing to prove either way to what extent it's applicable to this ST.

There are probably some clues in the rest of the text, or on the website of the company making this "electrical forklift", up to Asker to spot them.

Jennifer Levey Aug 6, 2023:

Re: Famous last(?) words from Daryo... From my real life experience there is no such forklift that you can control by either "walking" next to it of "riding it"..
See:
https://www.toyotaforklift.com/lifts/electric-pallet-stacker...
https://liftequipt.com.au/walk-behind-forklift/
and dozens more at your Googleized fingertips.

Daryo Aug 6, 2023:

One way or another ... with ONLY THIS to go on

This is from an electrical forklift system.

The only context is:
"all driving modes (walk, fly, ride)"

and without knowing the specific features of this particular "electrical forklift" we can ONLY keep guessing or making reasonable assumptions.

The only "electrical forklifts" I've seen so far are the same as any other forklift - only difference being an electrical motor instead of a petrol motor.

From my real life experience there is no such forklift that you can control by either "walking" next to it of "riding it", so by elimination walking / riding must be about the "modes" of moving the forklift (like walk=advancing slowly riding=full speed?)

With what's available so far there is a 99.9% probability "fly-by-wire" in this list of "driving modes" makes no sense.

You could have "remote-controlled" system for moving stuff around a warehouse, but they are NOT called"forklifts".

SO FAR the only way to operate a forklift is to sit inside the protective cage for the driver and use the control system available - the only one to be always used. No one sane would "walk" next to a loaded forklift, unless competing for the Darwin Award.

Jennifer Levey Aug 6, 2023:

@Daryo (one last try... sigh...) "Whether a forklift has purely mechanical commands or commands are transmitted as an electrical signal makes no difference whatsoever regarding the forklift moving in either "walk", "fly", or "ride" mode."

The ST says "all driving modes (walk, fly, ride)". There's no mention, explicit or implied, of how the machine moves (apart from the question header which refers to 'electrical forklifts').

When you get into the driver's seat of your motor-car, what are you going to do? Control the movements of the vehicle - or make it move?

Clue: 'motor-car' is a synonym of 'automobile', which means it moves autonomously - it doesn't need a driver to make it move. The driver uses one of several possible command/control systems/modes (tagged as ride, walk or fly - and 'ride' when you're driving your bright red Lamborghini), only to ensure it moves in accordance with his/her instructions - i.e. to keep in under control.

Daryo Aug 5, 2023:

Even the other reference https://www.arabnews.com/node/241761

is about how the forklift is controlled NOT about how the forklift moves.

In that model, the "fly-by-wire" indirect computerised controls are ALWAYS used, no matter the "driving mode", as it's the ONLY control mechanism.

If you can not see the difference between the type of control mechanism and different ways of moving a vehicle, I quit.

Daryo Aug 5, 2023:

There is NO WAY that "fly by wire" could make sense in this text, 101% sure of that even with the limited context available.

"fly by wire" is a type of control mechanism where commands are not transmitted mechanically (when the pilot/driver has direct mechanical contact with the actuators by pulling cables or levers) but as electrical signals sent through electrical wires.

"driving modes (walk, fly, ride)" are different ways of moving the whole forklift, with options along the lines of "slow/fast/loaded/unloaded/lifting load up/etc ...".

Whether a forklift has purely mechanical commands or commands are transmitted as an electrical signal makes no difference whatsoever regarding the forklift moving in either "walk", "fly", or "ride" mode.

These are two completely different characteristics of the forklift.

For analogy driving "fast" or "slow" has NOTHING to do with the engine being "petrol" or "diesel", or the colour of car or the numbers of seats.

As for https://community.infiniteflight.com/t/fly-by-wireless-the-f... designing airplanes is not quite the same as designing forklifts - not relevant.

One way or another more context needed from the client.

Jennifer Levey Aug 5, 2023:

@Daryo You have been categoric in your rejection of mikahell's answer 'fly-by-wire', but did you have a squint at the webref I provided in my 'agree'?

In Asker's context:
walk is short for 'walk behind' (operator uses controls at the rear of the machine as (s)he walks behind it);
ride is short for 'ride on' (operator sits on the machine);
and
fly is short for 'fly-by-wire', named by analogy with other remote control systems, especially in aircraft, in which the operator has no physical contact with the machine but instead uses an electronic control unit connected by a flexible cable.

I would speculate that in some situations (fully-automated warehoue picking, etc.) forklifts may also use fly-by-wifi ( https://community.infiniteflight.com/t/fly-by-wireless-the-f... ).

Samuël Buysschaert Aug 5, 2023:

[Edit] -
Le commentaire de Jennifer a du sens dans ce contexte limité.

Daryo Aug 5, 2023:

My guess "fly" = move with a load in the air - the load would be "flying" high above the ground. Although normally a load would be moved close to the ground for stability, and lifted only in the last moment, so that kind of "flying" is not much probable.

Maybe "move a load up" while stationary? That needs to be done all the time.

Mystère et boule de gomme.

If there's no clues in the document, ask the client?

Jean-Christophe Duc (asker) Aug 4, 2023:

@Daryo If I had a manual I would have read it...

Daryo Aug 4, 2023:

I'm pretty sure that if you read first the WHOLE manual before translating a single word you will find an explanation or art least some strong clues in the rest of the text.