Manual Operation
In manual mode the J1600 behaves like a conventional walk-behind electric pallet jack. The tiller and manual behavior are deliberately familiar, so an experienced pallet-jack operator can use the machine with about 30 minutes of training.
Manual capabilities
| Capability | Value |
|---|---|
| Pallet pick and drop height | Up to 1,600 mm (63 in) |
| Payload | Up to 1,600 kg (about 3,500 lb) |
| Fork lifting speed | 0.10 m/s unloaded; 0.08 m/s at full load |
| Fork lowering speed | 0.08 m/s unloaded; 0.12 m/s at full load |
| Gradeability, unloaded | 2.86° / 5% |
| Gradeability, full load | 1.72° / 3% |
| Traversable bump height | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Traversable gap width | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
Manual mode is the only mode for handling above floor level: autonomous delivery is always a floor-level drop.
Controls
- Tiller: drives and steers the vehicle and controls lifting. Grabbing or moving the tiller during autonomous travel returns the vehicle to manual control immediately.
- Key switch: set to the manual position for manual-only operation.
- Tiller-position switches: provide emergency stop and manual-control functions.
- White lights indicate the vehicle is in manual mode.
When to work manually
Manual mode carries the judgment-heavy share of pallet work:
- Pallet pickup — always manual, including fork placement and load checks.
- Truck unloading and dock plates — automatic gradeability is 0%, so slopes, ramps, and trailer entry are manual.
- Sensitive or unstable loads — barrels, top-heavy stacks, leaning loads, and confined maneuvering benefit from manual judgment of pallet detection and height.
- Congested areas — improvise a route through crowded receiving floors.
- Exceptions — misplaced pallets, damaged goods, loose shrink wrap, urgent reprioritization.
The Operator Manual lists these situations in full.
Manual driving builds the map
Every manual drive does double duty: the robot continuously learns and updates its 3D model of the environment while you steer it. Manual driving is also how you create new saved locations — see Location Management.
Switching to autonomous work
When the repetitive travel portion begins, hand the load over to the robot: create a task, confirm automatic mode, and step away. See Autonomous Operation and Manual and Autonomous Modes.