An apparatus, method and computer program for controlling operation of an object configured to traverse an incline along a track

Abstract

A means of controlling an object, such as a stairlift cair 6004, traversing an incline, such as a staircase 6000, along a track 6002 has an actuating element, such as a motorised chair, controlled usi

Description

BACKGROUND Field of the Disclosure The present invention relates to an apparatus, method and computer program for controlling operation of an object configured to traverse an incline along a track. Description of the Related Art The “background” description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in the background section, as well as aspects of the description which may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly or impliedly admitted as prior art against the present invention. Stairlifts in homes comprise a rail which is secured to the stair tread on the left or right side of the staircase in order to assist a person with mobility difficulties to move up and / or down the staircase. That is, these stairlifts, in homes, comprise a rail which is itself installed on the tread of a staircase and a motorized chair which climbs up and down the rail. The person with mobility difficulties sits on the motorized chair and is then assisted in moving up and / or down the staircase. Stairlifts typically have their rail custom made to fit a particular physical dimension of the staircase in a house. The rail is then unable to be used in other houses with different dimensions of staircase. Alternatively, it is possible for stairlifts to have rails which are assembled form a plurality of individual stairlift components. That is, the rail of these staircases is made up of individual components which are assembled in situ in order to form a stairlift rail which fits the specific staircase. This allows the components of the stairlift, including the stairlift rail, to be reused when the stairlift is no longer required at the original house. However, staircases are often unique and vary considerably between houses. That is, many houses have bespoke staircases which have been designed specifically for that house. In fact, even amongst staircases which appear similar in design, there may be significant variations amongst the physical dimensions of the staircases. Accordingly, stairlift rails are complex and must be carefully constructed in order to ensure safe and smooth operation of the stairlift device. Furthermore, owing to the unique physical dimensions of a staircase in a house, it can be very difficult to ensure that an object, such as the motorized chair of the stairlift, will safely and smoothly traverse the rails. Therefore, it may be necessary for a person to test and calibrate the stairlift, once installed, in order to identify any points along the rail which cannot be safely and smoothly traversed. However, even if a person performs this test, it can be difficult to control the operation of the stairlift in order to overcome any issues which have been identified. It is an aim of the present disclosure to address these issues. SUMMARY: A brief summary about the present disclosure is provided hereinafter to provide basic understanding related to certain aspects of the present disclosure. Embodiments of the present disclosure are defined by the independent claims. Further aspects of the disclosure are defined by the dependent claims. In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possible to accurately and efficiently perform control of an object configured to traverse an incline along a track, leading to improvements in safety and smoothness of the ride for a person located on the object when the object traverses the incline. It will be appreciated that the present disclosure is not particularly limited to these advantageous technical effects. Further technical effects will become apparent to the skilled person when reading the disclosure. The foregoing paragraphs have been provided by way of general introduction, and are not intended to limit the scope of the following claims. The described embodiments, together with further advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 illustrates an apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure; Figure 2 illustrates an example of an incline in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure; Figure 3 illustrates an example of a portion of a track in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure; Figure 4 illustrates an example of an incline in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure; Figure 5 illustrates an example configuration of an apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure; Figure 6 illustrates an example situation to which embodiments of the disclosure can be applied; Figure 7 illustrates an example situation to which embodiments of the disclosure can be applied; Figure 8 illustrates an example situation to which embodiments of the disclosure can be applied; Figure 9 illustrates an example method in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Referring to Figure 1, an apparatus 1000 according to embodiments of the disclosure is shown. Typically, an apparatus 1000 according to embodiments of the disclosure is a computer device such as a personal computer or a terminal connected to a server. Indeed, in embodiments, the apparatus may also be a server. The apparatus 1000 is controlled using a microprocessor or other processing circuitry 1002. In some examples, the apparatus 1000 may be a portable computing device such as a mobile phone, laptop computer or tablet computing device. The processing circuitry 1002 may be a microprocessor carrying out computer instructions or may be an Application Specific Integrated Circuit. The computer instructions are stored on storage medium 1004 which maybe a magnetically readable medium, optically readable medium or solid state type circuitry. The storage medium 1004 may be integrated into the apparatus 1000 or may be separate to the apparatus 1000 and connected thereto using either a wired or wireless connection. The computer instructions may be embodied as computer software that contains computer readable code which, when loaded onto the processor circuitry 1002, configures the processor circuitry 1002 to perform a method according to embodiments of the disclosure. Additionally, an optional user input device 1006 is shown connected to the processing circuitry 1002. The user input device 1006 may be a touch screen or may be a mouse or stylist type input device. The user input device 1006 may also be a keyboard or any combination of these devices. Furthermore, the user input device may include an audio capture device or the like which can be used in order to receive audio based instructions from the user (e.g. a so-called “voice command”). A network connection 1008 may optionally be coupled to the processor circuitry 1002. The network connection 1008 may be a connection to a Local Area Network or a Wide Area Network such as the Internet or a Virtual Private Network or the like. The network connection 1008 may be connected to a server allowing the processor circuitry 1002 to communicate with another apparatus in order to obtain or provide relevant data. The network connection 1002 may be behind a firewall or some other form of network security. Additionally, shown coupled to the processing circuitry 1002, is a display device 1010. The display device 1010, although shown integrated into the apparatus 1000, may additionally be separate to the apparatus 1000 and may be a monitor or some kind of device allowing the user to visualize the operation of the system. In addition, the display device 1010 may be a printer, projector or some other device allowing relevant information generated by the apparatus 1000 to be viewed by the user or by a third party. Furthermore, in examples, the display device 1010 may include a device, such as a head-mounted display device, which enables the user to visualize the operation of the system in a virtual reality or augmented reality environment. Referring to Figure 2, an example situation to which embodiments of the disclosure may be applied is illustrated. In this example situation, a staircase 2000 is illustrated. However, it should be noted that the disclosure is not so limited and any type of inclined surface is envisaged. For example, embodiments of the disclosure are applicable to a slope outside which may or may not be stepped. This will be explained later. The example staircase 2000, for example, is comprised of a number of individual steps, such as step 2002. These steps are arranged in order to form the staircase 2000 extending from a first platform 2004 (such as a floor or level) to a second platform 2006 (such as a second floor or level). In examples, the second platform 2006 may be a landing, such as that found on the first (or second) floor of a house. A bannister, or safety railing, 2008 is also provided on the staircase in order to prevent a person from falling off the staircase 2000 as they are walking up (or down) the staircase 2000. It should be noted that the first platform 2004 and / or the second platform 2006 in the more general example, may be any kind of substantially flat surface. For example, the first platform 2004 and / or the second platform 2006 may be a piece of ground, or may be an installed platform as will be explained later. Each individual step of the staircase 2000 can be defined by a width, a height and a depth. The actual values of these physical dimensions will vary in accordance with the type of the staircase and the environment within which the staircase is assembled. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that there may be some variation between the physical dimensions of the individual steps which form the staircase 2000. That is, a first step (such as the bottom step 2002) may have a first set of physical dimensions, while a second step of the staircase (such as the step 2010) may have a second set of physical dimensions (the second set of physical dimensions being different from the first set of physical dimensions in one or more dimensions). This variation between the physical dimensions of the individual steps may occur owing to certain tolerance ranges when constructing the staircase 2000, or may, alternatively, occur owing to the design of the staircase. A staircase with a turn (such as a quarter-turn staircase) may require a variation of the physical dimensions of the steps which form the turn (such as the provision of an intermediate landing or angled steps) when compared to the steps which form a straight portion of the staircase. The physical dimension of the staircase 2000 may therefore, in certain examples, be defined by the physical dimensions of the individual component steps, the number of steps and the relative orientation of those individual steps. These variations between the physical dimensions of the steps of staircase lead to a quite unique configuration of a staircase in a house. As has been noted, in the Background, stairlifts typically have their rail custom made to fit a particular physical dimension of the staircase in a house. The rail is then unable to be used in other houses with different dimensions of staircase. Alternatively, it is possible for stairlifts to have rails which are assembled form a plurality of individual stairlift components. That is, the rail of these staircases is made up of individual components which are assembled in situ in order to form a stairlift rail which fits the specific staircase. This allows the components of the stairlift, including the stairlift rail, to be reused when the stairlift is no longer required at the original house. EP 4090619B1 describes method, apparatus and computer program for selecting a kit of parts that traverse an incline. The teachings of EP 4090619B1 can be used in order to perform a survey of a staircase, or other type of incline, to select the components (e.g. a plurality of stairlift components) which are required in order to provide a kit of parts for a stairlift rail for the staircase. A stairlift rail, made up of a number of individual components, is shown fitted to the staircase in the example of Figure 2 of the present disclosure. The components for this stairlift rail may have been generated by a method, apparatus or computer program as described in EP 4090619B1, for example. In this example, the stairlift rail is formed of five different parts 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2014. Moreover, multiple instances of a number of these different parts are used within the stairlift rail. As an example, there are two instances of part 2006 and four instances of part 2008. Figure 3 of the present disclosure illustrates an example of a portion of a rail in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. That is, in Figure 3, an example of a curved stairlift component is shown. The example curved stairlift component as illustrated in Figure 3 comprises a tubular shaft 3000 (along which the stairlift chair rides) and a rack 3002 extending along the length below the shaft 3000 to engage with drive cogs located on a chair. Engaging means 3004 are provided on both ends of the stairlift component (that is, on the distal ends of the rack 3002). These engaging means are adapted to engage with corresponding engaging means on an adjacent length of stairlift rail. However, it will be appreciated that this is one example of a stairlift rail component which may be used in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. A stairlift rail may be constructed from a plurality of individual stairlift rail components of differing length and differing shape to that illustrated, as required. Nevertheless, it will be appreciated that, when combined, these parts (or components) form a stairlift rail which can be used, e.g. by a motorized stairlift chair, to traverse the staircase. However, the teachings of EP 4090619B1 provide an example of only one such way by which a plurality of stairlift components can be selected for a staircase (or other type of incline) in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. In other examples, the components of the stairlift rail may be selected by an installer through trial and error (e.g. the installer can arrange different components in various configurations on the staircase until a stairlift rail which fits the staircase can be constructed). Alternatively, a stairlift rail in the present disclosure may also include a custom rail which has been made in order to fit the particular dimensions of the staircase of the house. As such, it will be appreciated that the present disclosure is not particularly limited to any one particular way of installation of a stairlift rail on a staircase. Furthermore, although the foregoing has been explained with reference to installation of a stairlift upon a staircase, the disclosure is not so limited and the disclosure may be applied more generally to control of any object configured to traverse an incline along a rail. The components may be a stairlift rail or may be a ramp component and the incline may be stairs, a staircase, a slope or the like that are either indoors or outdoors. Consider, now, Figure 4 of the present disclosure. Figure 4 of the present disclosure illustrates an example of an incline in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. More specifically, Figure 4 shows an installation 4000 on an outdoor slope 4004. The installation 4000 has a first platform 4008 on a lower surface of the slope and a second platform 4002 on an upper surface of the slope 4004. The first platform 4008 and the second platform 4002 are, in embodiments, held in position using ground screws 4006. A ground screw 4006 is a known device that is used to affix items to soft ground. The ground screw is inserted into the ground and the platform is affixed to the top of the screw and held in position; the ground screw thus acting as a foundation to the platform. Of course, although the use of a ground screw is envisaged, the disclosure is not so limited. The platform may be mounted on a concrete foundation or pad or the ground screw may be encased in concrete or the like. In this example, a long ramp component 4010 and a short ramp component 4012 are used in order to construct the ramp for traversing the incline. It should be also appreciated that, in the case of a ramp, the incline of the ramp may be included as a constraint on the number and configuration of the components. For example, when traversing a steep incline, the number and configuration of components may be selected so that the incline on any one component does not exceed a threshold amount, such as not exceeding an incline of 1 in 15. This ensures that local Building Regulations can be adhered to and a suitable ramp may be constructed for traversing the incline. In some examples, the ramp for traversing the incline in Figure 4 may be generated using an apparatus, method or computer program as described in EP 4090619B1. However, the present disclosure is not particularly limited in this regard. More generally, any suitable method for generating the ramp illustrated in Figure 4 can be used as required. For example, the ramp may be constructed from a number of custom parts specifically produced for that individual incline. Accordingly, a ramp fortraversing an incline can be provided. The rail of the example of Figure 2 and the ramp of the example of Figure 4 each, in turn, provide an example of a track which can be provided on an incline. An object comprising one or more actuating elements, such as a motorized chair of a stairlift, can then traverse the incline along the track (e.g. along the rail of the stairlift of Figure 2 of the present disclosure). However, even once a track has been provided on an incline, it can be very difficult to ensure that an object, such as the motorized chair of the stairlift, will safely and smoothly traverse the track. For example, owing to the unique physical dimensions of a staircase in a house, it may be difficult for the object to traverse along the track without issue. Taking a stairlift as a specific example, a person riding on the stairlift may find it difficult to safely and smoothly traverse the stairlift rail when there is a change of angle of the stairlift rail and / or if the stairlift rail passes around a corner (such as in the case of a landing or a winder on the staircase). Therefore, it may be necessary for a person to test and calibrate the stairlift, once installed, in order to identify any points along the rail which cannot be safely and smoothly traversed. However, even if a person performs this test, it can be difficult to control the operation of the stairlift in order to overcome any issues which have been identified. Accordingly, for at least these reasons, an apparatus, method and computer program are provided in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. <Apparatus> Consider, now, Figure 5 of the present disclosure. Figure 5 illustrates an example configuration of an apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. The apparatus 5000 is an apparatus for controlling operation of an object configured to traverse an incline along a track, the object comprising one or more actuating elements and a control unit configured to control the one or more actuating elements in accordance with a set of instructions. The apparatus, 5000, comprises a first acquiring unit 5002, a second acquiring unit 5004 and a generating unit 5006. Optionally, the apparatus 5000 may further comprise a deployment unit 5008. In examples, these units may be provided as single circuitry. That is, while described as separate units of apparatus 5000, it will be appreciated that the first acquiring unit 5002, second acquiring unit 5004, generating unit 5006 and - if optionally included the deployment unit 5008 may, more generally, be implemented as circuitry of apparatus 5000 (e.g. as processing circuitry such as that described with reference to Figure 1, for example). Therefore, more generally, these units may be referred to as circuitry of the apparatus 5000. Alternatively, it will be appreciated that a number of these units (such as the first acquiring unit 5002 and the second acquiring unit 5004) may be combined into a single unit. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not particularly limited to a situation where these units are provided as discrete units within the apparatus 5000. The first acquiring unit 5002 is configured to acquire a representation of the incline and a representation of the track. The second acquiring unit 5004 is configured to acquire physiological data of a person who will be located on the object when the object traverses along the track. Finally, the generating unit 5006 is configured to generate a set of instructions for controlling operation of the object based on the acquired representation of the incline, the representation of the track and the physiological data of the person, the set of instructions being generated to control the operation of the object to satisfy one or more predetermined conditions when the object traverses the incline along the track. Accordingly, the apparatus 5000 is configured to generate a set of instructions for controlling operation of the object where the set of instructions are generated to satisfy one or more predetermined conditions when the object traverses along the track. In addition, optionally, the apparatus 5000 may comprise the deployment unit 5008. The deployment unit 5008 may be configured to deploy the set of instructions to the control unit of the object, once the set of instructions have been generated. As such, it becomes possible to accurately and efficiently perform control of an object configured to traverse an incline along a track, leading to improvements in safety and smoothness of the ride for a person located on the object when the object traverses the incline. However, in examples, the deployment unit may not necessarily be provided. For example, in some situations, the apparatus 5000 may be used to generate the set of instructions prior to an installation of the track on the incline. In such a situation, which will be described in more detail later, the apparatus 5000 may not necessarily deploy the instructions, which have been generated, to the control unit of the object. In some examples, the set of instructions may be deployed to the control unit of the object only at a later time (e.g. once the installation has been completed). In other examples, the set of instructions may be generated as a test environment in order to confirm that control of the object, as it traverses the incline is possible in a manner which satisfies the one or more predetermined conditions. In this type of situation, it may not necessarily be required to deploy the set of instructions to the control unit of the object (in particular, not necessarily at the time at which the test is performed). Furthermore, the deployment of the set of instructions to the control unit of the object may not be performed if a warning is generated which indicates that a set of instructions satisfying the one or more predetermined conditions cannot be generated by apparatus 5000. Again, this will be described in more detail later. Furthermore, in examples, the apparatus 5000 may, optionally, be provided as part of a system which contains one or more additional devices. For example, the apparatus 5000 may be included as part of a system comprising the apparatus 5000 and the object which is configured to traverse the incline along the track. However, the present disclosure is not particularly limited in this regard. In examples, one or more additional units (i.e. in addition to apparatus 5000 and the object) may also be provided as part of this system. This may include, for example, one or more additional components required for, or part of, the track and its installation on the incline. Further details of embodiments of the disclosure will now be described with reference to an example situation. <Example Situation> Consider, now, Figure 6 of the present disclosure. Figure 6 illustrates an example situation to which embodiments of the disclosure can be applied. In the example of Figure 6, a stairlift rail 6002 has been provided on a staircase 6000. As has been explained with reference to Figure 2 of the present disclosure, this stairlift rail may have been selected by an apparatus, method and computer program as described in EP 4090619B1. However, the present disclosure is not particularly limited in this regard and, more generally, the stairlift rail may have been provided on the staircase in any suitable method as desired (e.g. as a custom rail or the like). A motorized chair 6004 is provided as part of the stairlift. The motorized chair 6004 is an example of an object configured to traverse an incline along a track, the object comprising one or more actuating elements and a control unit configured to control the one or more actuating elements in accordance with a set of instructions in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. A person 6006 who wishes to use the stairlift may sit on the motorized chair 6004 as the motorized chair 6004 traverses the incline in order to travel from an initial position Ato a final position B. However, as has been explained, it can be difficult to ensure that the person riding the motorized chair will experience a smooth and safe movement as the motorized chair traverses along the rail of the stairlift. As an example, if the staircase has a corner or turn, it can be difficult to avoid a situation where the legs of the person make contact with a portion of the staircase or the wall to which the stairlift rail is attached. Moreover, it can be difficult to ensure that the motorized chair remains level even when ascending a steep portion of the rail. As such, in this example, apparatus 5000 is provided in order to control operation of the motorized chair when it is traversing the stairlift rail. More specifically, apparatus 5000 is used in order to generate a set of instructions which can be deployed to the motorized chair. A controller on the motorized chair can then execute these instructions, as it traverses the incline. <Data Acquisition> In order to generate these instructions, the first acquiring unit 5002 of apparatus 5000 is first configured in order to acquire a representation of the staircase and a representation of the rail. In some examples, this acquiring process performed by acquiring unit 5002 may be performed during an initial survey of the staircase (e.g. before the stairlift rail has actually been installed). In other examples, this acquiring process may be performed at a later time after the installation of the stairlift rail on the staircase. In examples, the representation of the staircase may include a model of the staircase (here, the staircase). For example, the model of the staircase may include a three-dimensional (3D) model of the staircase. The model may define the staircase in terms of the physical dimensions of the individual component steps, the number of steps and the relative orientation of those individual steps which form the staircase. There are a number of different ways in which the model of the staircase can be obtained by the first acquiring unit 5002. In some examples, the model may have been previously produced at a time when the rail was fitted to the staircase. In this situation, the first acquiring unit 5002 may be configured to acquire the previously generated model from a storage unit or database in which that model has been stored. Alternatively, however, the model of the staircase may not necessarily be available for retrieval from a storage unit or database. For example, the model may not necessarily have been produced when fitting the stairlift to the staircase (e.g. if the stairlift had been fitted to the staircase in some other way). Alternatively, the model may have been previously produced when fitting the stairlift rail, but may no longer be available for retrieval. In these situations, the first acquiring unit 5002 may be configured in order to acquire the model (or representation) of the staircase by acquiring a number of individual measurements of the staircase and combining those measurements of the staircase to form a model of the staircase. Consider a situation whereby a person (such as an installer) is performing a measurement of one or more physical dimensions of a staircase (which may be the staircase 6000 illustrated with reference to Figure 6 of the present disclosure). The person may perform measurement of the physical dimensions of the staircase using a measurement device. This measurement device may be configured to acquire measurements of the physical dimensions of the staircase, including measurements of the individual steps of the staircase. Once the measurements have been performed by the person using the measurement device, measurement information indicative of the one or more physical dimensions of the staircase may be acquired by the first acquiring unit 5002 from the measurement device. The measurement device used to perform the measurements of the physical dimensions of the staircase by the person is not particularly limited in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. In some examples, the measurement device which performs the measurement of the physical dimensions of the staircase may be a laser measurement device. In this case, the person may proceed to measure the physical dimensions of the steps of the staircase (such as the height, width and depth of the steps). Alternatively, the measurement device may be a camera or camera system which is configured in order to determine physical dimensions of an object (such as the staircase, or individual steps of the staircase) from live or recorded images of the scene. In this case, the person may proceed to capture a number of images of the staircase in order that the physical dimensions of the staircase may be determined. In some examples, a number of temporary markers may be placed on the staircase in order to assist the measurement device in determining the physical dimensions of the staircase from the captured images. The apparatus 5000 may prompt the person to perform the measurements (such as an instruction as to the sequence of measurements which are to be performed). Alternatively, the measurements may be made in any order and recorded against a unique identifier identifying the specific measurement which has been made. Alternatively, the measurements may be performed in a predetermined sequence. In an example, a predetermined sequence may comprise the person first providing the height of the bottom (lowest) step of the staircase. Then, the person may be required to provide the width of this bottom step. Finally, the person may be required to provide the depth of this bottom step. Once these measurements of the first step have been provided, the sequence may proceed to the measurements of height, width and depth of the next step of the staircase (being the step which is adjoined to the bottom step). Alternatively, in examples, the predetermined sequence may comprise first specifying the number of the steps of the staircase, before subsequently specifying the dimensions of a first step of that staircase (again, the dimensions could comprise the height, width and depth of a first step of the staircase). These dimensions, of the first step, could then be applied to each subsequent step of the staircase (up to the maximum number of steps which has been specified). This reduces the amount of user input which is required. The measurement information may be acquired by the apparatus 5000 as each measurement is performed or, alternatively, may be acquired only when the measurements (or a subset of those measurements) have been completed. In some examples, the measurement device may actually be integral to the apparatus 5000. In other examples, the measurement device may be external to apparatus 5000. In this case, the measurement device may be communicatively coupled to the apparatus 5000 such that apparatus 5000 receives the measurement information indicative of the one or more physical dimensions of the staircase by any wired or wireless communication in the measurement device. Alternatively, in other examples, the acquiring unit may acquire the measurement information via an input device (such as user input device 1006 as described with reference to Figure 1 of the present disclosure) on the basis of the measurements which have been performed using the measurement device. Once the apparatus 5000 has acquired this measurement information, this measurement information may be used, by the first acquiring unit 5002, as (or alternatively, in order to acquire) a representation of the staircase. Indeed, in examples, the first acquiring unit may be configured to acquire the representation of the staircase by generating a model from the measurement information which has been obtained. For example, once the measurement information indicative of the physical dimensions of the staircase has been acquired, the apparatus 5000 may be configured to generate a model of the staircase in accordance with the measurement information. It will be appreciated that the method of generating the model of the staircase used by apparatus 5000 is not particularly limited. For example, apparatus 5000 may be configured to take the measurement information (which is indicative of the physical dimensions of the staircase) and generate a virtual three-dimensional model of that staircase using polygonal modelling. That is, the physical dimensions of the staircase may be used to construct a three-dimensional representation of the staircase which can thus be manipulated by the user. Dedicated modelling software available in the art may be used to construct the model of the staircase from the measurement information as required. In examples, a three-dimensional model may be generated as a collection of points in three-dimensional space connected by entities such as lines or curves. In some examples, a solid three-dimensional model may be generated by the apparatus 5000. However, a shell or boundary model representing only the surface of the staircase may, alternatively, be generated by apparatus 5000 in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. In some examples, the three-dimensional model of the staircase may be generated by manipulation of the properties of a series of pre-constructed models of a staircase in accordance with the measurement information which has been received. In this manner, a pre-constructed model of the staircase may be adapted in accordance with the measurement information which has been obtained. This reduces the processing demands required to construct or generate the model of the staircase in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. It will further be appreciated that the present disclosure is not particularly limited to a three-dimensional model of the staircase, but may also be a two dimensional model of the staircase. In this way, the first acquiring unit 5002 may acquire a representation of the staircase. Furthermore, as has been described with reference to Figure 5 of the present disclosure, the first acquiring unit 5002 is further configured to acquire a representation of the track (here, the stairlift rail) which has been installed (or will be installed) on the incline. In examples, the representation of the rail can include a model of the rail. In particular, the representation of the rail may comprise at least one of an indication of the path the object will take when traversing the incline and an indication of individual components forming sections of the track. The manner by which this representation of the rail is acquired by the first acquiring unit 5002 of apparatus 5000 is not particularly limited in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. Indeed, the manner by which the representation of the rail is acquired may depend on a manner by which the stairlift rail for the staircase has been determined. As an example, if the stairlift rail for the staircase has been selected by an apparatus, method or computer program of EP 4090619B1, the model of the rail may be available for retrieval from a database or storage unit by the first acquiring unit 5002. However, the present disclosure is not particularly limited in this regard. In examples, the acquiring unit 5002 may acquire the representation of the rail via user input. For example, a person (such as an installer) may select the stairlift rail parts (standard, or bespoke) which have been selected or used to construct the stairlift rail for the staircase. Return, now, to Figure 2 of the present disclosure. Here, an example of a stairlift rail which has been installed on a staircase is shown. In this example, the stairlift rail may have been constructed from a standard set of stairlift components. However, it will be appreciated that the stairlift rail may be constructed from a mixture of standard and bespoke components. Alternatively, in examples, the entire stairlift rail may be custom built for the staircase. In this type of situation, the acquiring unit may acquire the representation of the stairlift rail by a person, such as the installer, indicating, through user input, the different stairlift rail components which have been used and / or their respective placement on the staircase. For example, the person may indicate through user input the number, type and placement of rail components which have been used in constructing the stairlift rail. In other examples, the representation of the stairlift rail may be acquired from measurement information which is acquired (e.g. using a measurement device). In examples, the measurement device may be a camera or camera system which is configured in order to determine physical dimensions of the stairlift rail from live or recorded images of the scene. In this case, a person (such as the installer) may proceed to capture a number of images of the staircase in order that the physical dimensions of the stairlift rail may be determined. In some examples, a number of temporary markers may be placed on the stairlift rail in order to assist the measurement device in determining the physical dimensions of the stairlift rail from the captured images. Once the measurement information indicative of the physical dimensions of the staircase has been acquired, the apparatus 5000 may be configured to generate a model of the stairlift rail in accordance with the measurement information which has been obtained. Indeed, the first acquiring unit 5002 of apparatus 5000 may generate the model of the stairlift rail from the measurement information in a manner the same as has been described for the model of the staircase. Accordingly, further repetition of the details of this generation process will not be provided again for brevity of disclosure. In this manner, it will be appreciated that the first acquiring unit 5002 of apparatus 5000 can acquire both a representation of the staircase (or, more generally, the incline) and a representation of the rail (or, more generally, the track). <User Data> As has been explained with reference to Figure 5 of the present disclosure, the second acquiring unit 5004 of apparatus 5000 is configured to acquire physiological data of a person who will be located on the object when the object traverses the incline. In the case of a stairlift, as in the example of Figure 6 of the present disclosure, the person may therefore be a person who will sit on the motorized chair of the stairlift and thus use the stairlift to travel from initial position Ato final position B. It will be appreciated that it is very important that the second acquiring unit 5004 acquires the data of the person. That is, it will be appreciated that control required in order to maximise the safety and smoothness of the movement when using the stairlift depends upon the physiological data of the person who will be using the stairlift. As a specific example, a different type of control may be required depending on the height of the person (as there may be more risk that a taller person will make contact with a wall or ceiling when using the stairlift, for example). As such, the second acquiring unit 5002 is configured to acquire physiological data of the person. In the present disclosure, physiological data of the person can include any data concerning the physical characteristics of the person. As an example, the physiological data of the person can include at least one of: the height of the person and the length of the person’s legs. The length of a person’s legs (in particular, the length from the person’s hip to their knee) can be very important in determining how safely a person will be able to travel along the rail (e.g. around a corner, or close to a wall). However, the present disclosure is not particularly limited in this regard. The physiological data of the person can include other information including, for example, the person’s age and / or weight. Indeed, any physical characteristic of the person can be acquired as part of the physiological data of the person in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. The manner by which the second acquiring unit 5002 acquires this information (the physiological data of the person) is not particularly limited in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. In examples, the second acquiring unit 5002 may acquire the physiological data of the person via user input. For example, a person (either being the person who will use the stairlift, or, alternatively, a person such as the installer of the stairlift) may enter the necessary physiological data into a data field of the user interface. In examples, this may include, for example, a drop-down box for selecting data such as the height of the person. Alternatively, for example, this can include a text-entry box which can be used in order to directly enter the data of the person. Alternatively, the second acquiring unit 5002 may acquire the physiological data by a scanning process. As an example, the acquiring unit 5002 may acquire the physiological data of the person from image data of the person. The image data of the person may be calibrated through the inclusion of a calibration object within the image of the person at the time at which the image of the person is captured. Consider an example of the height of the person as an example of the physiological data of the person. In this example, the person may stand next to, or hold, a calibration object of known size at the time at which the image of the person is captured. Then, the acquiring unit 5002 may acquire this image of the person and may further acquire information such as the height of the person from the image data (e.g. by comparing the apparent size of the person in that image data with the apparent size of the calibration object). In some examples, a calibration object need not necessarily be included within the image data. For example, physiological data such as the height of the person may be acquired from image data of the person, using information concerning a distance of the person from the image capture device and the apparent size of the person in that image data. The distance of the person from the image capture device may be known if the person is told to stand a certain distance away from the image capture device at the time of image capture. Alternatively, the distance of the person from the image capture device may be measured at the time of image capture (e.g. using a distance measuring sensor). As such, it will be appreciated that the manner by which the physiological data of the person is acquired by the second acquiring unit 5004 of apparatus 5000 is not particularly limited and may depend, for example, on the type of physiological data which is to be acquired. In some examples, once the physiological data of the person has been acquired, this data may be used in order to manipulate or otherwise generate a model of a person having the physical characteristics of the person who will travel on the stairlift. That is, a virtual representation of the person can be created from the physiological data, with this virtual representation being used, by generating unit 5006, with the representation of the staircase and the representation of the rail in order to generate the set of instructions for control. However, the present disclosure is not particularly limited in this regard and, in examples, this data may be used directly with the representation of the staircase and the representation of the rail by generating unit 5006 for generation of set of instructions for control. Furthermore, while the present disclosure has been described with reference to an example of the physiological data of a single person, it will be appreciated that the present disclosure is not particularly limited in this regard. For example, there may be a situation in which multiple different people may independently use a given stairlift (e.g. if there are multiple people within a given household who have mobility issues and require assistance in using the staircase). In this situation, the physiological data of each person who may use the stairlift may be acquired by the second acquiring unit 5004. The subsequent process of generating the set of instructions, performed by generating unit 5006 of apparatus 5000 may then be performed in view of the physiological data of each person. For example, each person may have an individual profile which can be used, with a different set of instructions being generated for each individual user. Alternatively, a single set of instructions can be generated which can be used in order to provide a smooth and safe ride on the stairlift for all users. <Generation of lnstructions> Once the first acquiring unit 5002 has acquired the representation of the staircase and the rail and the second acquiring unit 5004 has acquired the physiological data of the person, the generating unit 5006 of apparatus 5000 is configured to generate a set of instructions for controlling operation of the object based this data. According to embodiments of the disclosure, the set of instructions are generated to control the operation of the object to satisfy one or more predetermined conditions when the object traverses the incline along the track. In examples, the set of instructions may comprise instructions concerning a rotation of the object for different positions on the incline as the object traverses the incline along the track. For example, in the example situation of a stairlift, the instructions may define how the control unit, of the motorized chair, should operate the actuators of the motorized chair in order to rotate the chair as it traverses along the stairlift rail such that the chair attains a specific orientation at different positions along the rail. Indeed, in examples, these rotations can include at least one of a pan rotation, a tilt rotation and a roll rotation of the chair as it passes along the rail. However, the set of instructions which can be generated by apparatus 5000 are not particularly limited to instructions for ration of the object. Alternatively, or in addition, the set of instructions may include instructions for defining a start position or an end position of the object along the track (e.g. a virtual stop, defining a point along the track that the object should not be allowed to traverse beyond) a calibration function (e.g. to set a default level, rotation or orientation of the object), an instruction to modify the speed of the object as it traverses the track (e.g. defining a desired, a maximum or a minimum speed of the object for each portion of the track) or the like. Accordingly, in embodiments of the disclosure, the set of instructions may comprise instructions concerning at least one of: a rotation of the object for different positions on the incline as the object traverses the incline along the track, a start position of the object on the track, an end position of the object on the track, or a speed of the object for different positions on the incline as the object traverses the incline along the track. Consider, for example, the example of Figure 7 of the present disclosure. Figure 7 illustrates an example situation to which embodiments of the disclosure can be applied. More specifically, Figure 7 illustrates - as seen from above - a first portion (steps 1 to 9) of a staircase which has been fitted with a stairlift. As can be seen in the example of Figure 7, this stairlift has been fitted around a corner. Furthermore, this stairlift will be used by a person P. In examples, the person P may perform certain basic control of the object through input, e.g. by a button or a joystick, on the object. As an example, the person P may use a joystick in order to provide an instruction for the object to traverse along the stairlift rail (e.g. either in an upwards direction (from a lower floor to a higher floor) or in a downwards direction (from a higher floor to a lower floor)). However, while the person P may provide this basic control to operate the object, the controller of the object may nevertheless provide certain control of the object, in accordance with a generated set of control instructions, to supplement or augment the control instructions which are provided by the user. For example, these control instructions, executed by the control unit of the object, may define, for each portion of the stairlift rail traversed by the object, a given speed of the object, a given orientation of the object or the like. Now, as has already been described, the first acquiring unit 5002 may acquire the representation of the staircase and the representation of the rail, while the second acquiring unit 5004 may acquire the physiological data of the person P. The stairlift may be operated by a person P using a control mounted on the motorized chair. For example, there may be a first button the person should press if they wish to proceed up the staircase (i.e. from a lower floor to a higher floor) and a second button the person should press if they wish to proceed down the staircase (i.e. from the higher floor to the lower floor). In other words, actuation of these buttons may cause the motorized chair of the stairlift to traverse (either upwards or downwards) along the rail of the stairlift. However, depending on the location of the motorized chair along the rail, the chair should be controlled in a manner to further improve the safety of the system. As previously mentioned, typically, it may be necessary for a person to test and calibrate the stairlift, once installed, in order to identify any points along the rail which cannot be safely and smoothly traversed. However, even if a person performs this test, it can be difficult to control the operation of the stairlift in order to overcome any issues which have been identified. Moreover, this operation cannot be performed until the stairlift has been installed. Instead, in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure, the apparatus 5000 can generate a set of instructions to control the operation of the object to satisfy one or more predetermined conditions when the object traverses the incline along the track, thus ensuring the smoothness and safety of the stairlift. Advantageously, this can be performed even before the stairlift itself has actually been installed. The generating unit may generate the set of instructions for control in order to satisfy one or more predetermined conditions when the object (here, the motorized chair of the stairlift) traverses along the rail. These predetermined conditions may define certain constraints upon the operation of the stairlift. Moreover, these predetermined conditions may be defined in accordance with the physiological data of the person. As an example, the one or more predetermined conditions may include at least one of: a condition to maximize smoothness of movement of the motorized chair when it traverses the stairlift rail, a condition to minimize a number of rotations of the motorized chair when it traverses the stairlift rail, a condition to maximize safety of movement when the motorized chair traverses the rail, and a condition to avoid collisions when the motorized chair traverses the stairlift rail. As an example, a condition to maximize smoothness of movement may place a restriction upon a rate rotation which can be applied to the motorized chair as it traverses the stairlift rail. This may suppress rapid changes of orientation which may cause discomfort in a person who uses the stairlift. Alternatively, as an example, a condition to minimize a number of rotations of the motorized chair as it traverses the stairlift rail may suppress small rotations of the motorized chair (with these small rotations having the potential to cause discomfort in a person who uses the stairlift). Alternatively, as an example, a condition to maximize the safety of movement when the motorized chair traverses the stairlift rail may include a requirement that the motorized chair faces in a certain direction at certain portions of the stairlift rail (e.g. away from the staircase on a landing at the base or the top of the stairs). Alternatively, as an example, a condition to maximize the safety of movement when the motorized chair traverses the stairlift rail may include a requirement to rotate the motorized chair such that it remains level even when travelling along an inclined portion of the stairlift rail. Alternatively, for example, a condition to avoid collisions when the motorized chair traverses the stairlift may include a condition to avoid any potential clash between the legs of a person travelling on the stairlift and the staircase, the stairlift or the surrounding area. These conditions can be used by the generating unit 5006 of apparatus 5000, to generate a set of instructions which can be used for control of the object as it traverses the stairlift rail (or, more generally, any such track on an incline). An example set of instructions as may and their generation by apparatus 5000 will now be described. Consider, again, the example of Figure 7 of the present disclosure. In this example, as seen from above, a first portion (steps 1 to 9) of a staircase which has been fitted with a stairlift is shown. Generating unit 5006 of apparatus 5000 is configured to use a representation of the staircase (e.g. a model, such as a virtual model) and a representation of the rail (e.g. an indication of the path the motorized chair will take when traversing the rail or an indication of individual components forming sections of the track) which have been acquired by the first acquiring unit 5002 alongside the physiological data of the person P who will use the stairlift in order to determine a set of instructions for control of the motorised chair. Indeed, in this example, the generating unit 5006 of apparatus 5000 may determine that, at a first location P1 along the stairlift rail, the optimum direction of the motorized stairlift chair is a direction shown by arrow A1. Generating unit 5006 may determine that this is the optimum direction of the motorized stairlift in view of a number of predetermined conditions. In particular, apparatus 5000 may determine that this is the optimum direction for the motorized chair at position P1, in order that the person P has easy access to and from the motorized chair at position P1 (which corresponds to a location where the person P will sit down on, or stand up from, the chair). Then, generating unit 5006 may determine the optimum control of the motorized stairlift on the portion of rail between position P2 and position P4 (being the portion of the rail which turns around the corner at the base of the staircase, in this example). Here, generating unit 5006 may generate the set of instructions in view of a number of predetermined conditions. Firstly, for example, generating unit 5006 may determine that the chair should rotate, as it passes from point P2 to point P4, in order that person P, riding the stairlift, does not face backwards (i.e. away from the direction of travel (as this may compromise comfort and safety of the user)). Furthermore, generating unit 5006 may generate the instructions in order that the chair gradually rotates from a direction A2 at position P2, to a direction A3 at position P3 and finally to direction A4 at position P4. This gradual rotation of the chair may be performed in order to avoid repeated small rotations of the chair (leading to a jerky ride) and / or to avoid rapid rotation of the chair. Then, for position P4 - as the motorized chair begins to ascend the inclined portion of the stairlift rail (i.e. the portion of the stairlift rail located over steps 1 to 9 of the staircase) the generating unit may determine a set of instructions to rotate the chair such that it remains level even as it is ascending this inclined portion. Furthermore, in view of one or more predetermined conditions, the generating unit may determine that the chair should be rotated such that it faces slightly up the staircase between position P4 and position P5 (improving the comfort and safety of the person). Indeed, to minimize the rotations of the chair, the generating unit 5006 may determine that the same orientation of the chair should be maintained between position P4 and position P5. Once the generating unit 5006 has determined, based on the representation of the staircase, the representation of the rail and the physiological data of the person, for each location along the stairlift rail, the optimum orientation of the motorized chair, the generating unit 5006 may then generate a set of instructions concerning the necessary rotation of the motorized chair, at each position along the stairlift rail, in order to achieve this optimum orientation. As an example, these instructions may take the form of a command to rotate the motorized chair (in any of a pan rotation, pitch rotation or roll rotation) by a certain amount from a predetermined initial orientation as it reaches each position along the stairlift rail. The form and nature of these instructions are not particularly limited and may vary depending on the situation to which the embodiments of the disclosure are applied (e.g. the type of stairlift, for example). For example, in some situations, these instructions may be generated in the form of a computer program code which can be read by the control unit on the motorized chair, such that the control unit of the motorized chair can execute the set of instructions to achieve the desired orientation of the motorized chair at each position along the stairlift. Nevertheless, in this way, a set of instructions for controlling operation of the object as it traverses the incline can be efficiently and reliably generated by apparatus 5000. Consider, now, the example of Figure 8 of the present disclosure. Figure 8 of the present disclosure illustrates an example situation to which embodiments of the disclosure can be applied. In particular, the example of Figure 8 of the present disclosure illustrates a second portion (steps 10 to 15) of the staircase which has been described with reference to Figure 7 of the present disclosure. Again, this portion of the staircase is shown from above. The generation of the instructions by generating unit 5006 as the motorized stairlift traverses the stairlift rail corresponding to steps 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 may, in this example, be generated in the same way as has been described with reference to Figure 7 of the present disclosure. Accordingly, further repetition of this process will not be provided again at this stage for brevity of disclosure. Instead, the discussion will now focus on the generation of the instructions, by generating unit 5006, for the portion of the stairlift rail corresponding to the upstairs landing (i.e. the portion of the rail after the step 15 of the staircase). In this example, consider a situation where the motorized chair reaches position P6 of the stairlift rail (on the upstairs landing). At this point, the motorized chair is to pass around a corner and reach its final position P7 (where the person can embark / disembark from the motorized chair). In accordance with the representation of the staircase, the representation of the rail and the physiological data of the person P, the generating unit may determine that the optimum orientation of the motorized chair of the stairlift may be in direction A6 as illustrated in Figure 8. This may be to satisfy a predetermined condition, concerning the safety of the stairlift, that the person P should always face in the direction of travel away from the staircase, for example. However, generating unit will identify that even in this optimum position, there is insufficient room - given the dimensions of the staircase, the current (or planned) location of the stairlift rail and the height of the person P - for the motorized chair to rotate around the corner without an impact being likely between the legs of person P and the surrounds of the staircase (e.g. the wall). In other words, given the physiological data of the person and the current configuration of the staircase and the stairlift rail, a clash when the motorized chair reaches position P6. Accordingly, generating unit 5006 may, in this example, determine that a set of instructions cannot be generated which would satisfy the one or more predetermined conditions when the motorized chair traverses the stairlift rail. Therefore, in some examples, the generating unit 5006 of apparatus 5000 may be configured to generate a warning when a set of instructions to control operation of the object to satisfy the one or more predetermined conditions cannot be generated. The type of warning which is generated is not particularly limited in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. In examples, the warning may be an indication of a flag, informing a person (such as an installer of the stairlift) that the set of instructions cannot be generated. In examples, the warning may include a visual, audio and / or haptic signal. In some examples, the warning may include a detailed indication of the reason as to why the set of instructions cannot be generated (e.g. it is not possible to avoid a collision) and / or a detailed indication of area of the stairlift rail causing the warning to be generated (e.g. an indication, such as a visual indication, of the position, on the stairlift rail, where the event causing the warning to be generated (here, the collision) occurs). Furthermore, in examples, the warning may include an indication of a change in the rail (or more generally, the track) which will be required in order that a set of instructions to control operation of the object to satisfy the one or more predetermined conditions can be generated. Take the example of Figure 8. Here, the set of instructions for control of the motorized chair which satisfy the predetermined conditions as the motorized chair traverses the stairlift rail cannot be generated. This is because, with the current configuration, it is not possible to avoid a clash (or collision) between the person P and the wall of the staircase when the motorized chair reaches the position P6. However, the generating unit 5006 may be configured to analyze the representation of the staircase, the representation of the stairlift rail and the physiological data of the person in order to identify whether it is possible to make any changes which would enable a set of instructions to be generated which would satisfy the predetermined conditions. As an example, it may be possible to change a placement of a portion of the stairlift rail in order to avoid the collision between the person and the wall at the position P6. Alternatively, it may be possible to change an end portion of the stairlift, such that the motorized chair does not have to traverse that portion (e.g. stopping the stairlift rail at position P7A, for example). Alternatively, it may be possible (or necessary) to change a portion of the staircase itself in order that the predetermined conditions can be satisfied when generating a set of control instructions for the motorized chair. For example, if a portion of the wall of the staircase is responsible for colliding with the person P when the motorized chair reaches point P6 on the stairlift rail, then it may be necessary to change or alter the structure of that piece of the wall in order that the motorized chair is able to traverse the stairlift rail more safely. Alternatively, it may be possible to replace a portion of the of the stairlift rail with a different, custom, part in order to avoid the collision between the person and the wall at position P6. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the nature of the indication of the change in the rail (or more generally, the track) which will be required in order that a set of instructions to control operation of the object to satisfy the one or more predetermined conditions can be generated is not particularly limited in this regard and may vary depending on the situation to which the embodiments of the disclosure are applied. Furthermore, in some examples, the warning may request that a person, such as an installer of the stairlift, reviews the necessary information (including, for example, the representation of the staircase, the representation of the rail and the physiological data of the person) in order to make a manual modification of this information in order to overcome the issue which has been identified. This input may be provided through a user input device as has been described with reference to Figure 1 of the present disclosure, for example. Therefore, in some examples, the apparatus 5000 can be used in order to provide a test of the stairlift, in a virtual environment prior to its installation, to determine whether it will be possible to generate a set of instructions which will enable the stairlift to be operated by the intended user while satisfying the necessary predetermined conditions for safety and smooth operation. This can further improve the easy and efficiency of stairlift installation, as well as improving the safety and comfort of a user of the stairlift. <Deployment> As has been explained optionally, once the instructions have been generated by the generating unit 5006 of apparatus 5000, the deployment unit 5008 of apparatus 5000 (if provided) may be configured to deploy those instructions to the control unit of the object once the set of instructions have been generated. The controller of the object may then execute these instructions in order to perform the control in accordance with the instructions. In examples, the deployment unit 5008 may be configured to deploy the instructions directly to the controller of the object. For example, the set of instructions, once generated by generating unit 5006, may be generated in the form of an executable set of instructions which are provided directly to the control unit of the object. In examples, the deployment unit 5008 may deploy these instructions, to the controller of the object, through any suitable wired or wireless connection. For example, the instructions may be provided to the control unit of the object over a network connection, such as the internet. Alternatively, the instruction may be provided to the control unit of the object over a short-range wireless connection, such as a Bluetooth connection. Alternatively, in some examples, the instructions may be deployed to the controller of the object indirectly. An example of indirectly deploying the instructions to the controller of the object may include deploying the instructions to a storage medium (such as a memory card, or the like). The storage medium may thus be used as an intermediary between the apparatus 5000 and the controller of the object. In examples, the storage medium (e.g. a memory card) may then be inserted a corresponding reader on the object, such that the controller of the object can access the set of instructions from the storage medium. In some examples, the storage medium may temporarily hold the set of instructions. For example, once inserted into the reader of the object, the set of instructions may be transferred to memory within the object itself. At this stage, the storage medium may then be removed from the reader. In other examples, the storage medium may be retained within the object, with the controller of the object accessing the instructions from the storage medium in the reader as required (i.e. during operation of the object). In some examples, the storage medium may store the instructions for a given time interval before those instructions are provided to the object. For example, as has been explained, the representation of the incline (e.g. a staircase) the representation of the track (e.g. a stairlift rail) and the physiological data of the person may be obtained prior to an installation process. Accordingly, the set of instructions may be generated, by apparatus 5000, prior to the installation process. In this situation, the storage medium may be used in order to store the set of instructions which have been generated until the installation has been completed, at which stage the instructions may be provided to the object from the storage medium. As such, the manner of deployment of the instructions to the object in order that those instructions may be used in order to control the object during its operation (i.e. while the object is traversing the incline) is not particularly limited in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure, and may vary depending on the situation to which the embodiments of the disclosure are applied. Indeed, as has been explained, in some situations, it may not necessarily be required to deploy the instructions to the control unit at all. Therefore, the present disclosure is not particularly limited in this regard. <Method> Consider, now, Figure 9 of the present disclosure. Figure 9 illustrates an example method in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. In examples, the method of Figure 9 may be implemented by a device such as apparatus 1000 or apparatus 5000 of the present disclosure. However, the present disclosure is not particularly limited in this respect. The method of Figure 9 is a method of controlling operation of an object configured to traverse an incline along a track, the object comprising one or more actuating elements and a control unit configured to control the one or more actuating elements in accordance with a set of instructions. The example method of Figure 9 starts at step S900 and proceeds to step S9002. In step S9002, the method comprises acquiring a representation of the incline and a representation of the track. In step S9004, the method comprises acquiring physiological data of a person who will be located on the object when the object traverses the incline along the track. In step S9006, the method comprises generating a set of instructions for controlling operation of the object based on the acquired representation of the incline, the representation of the track and the physiological data of the person, the set of instructions being generated to control the operation of the object to satisfy one or more predetermined conditions when the object traverses the incline along the track. The method may then, optionally, proceed to step S9008. In step S9008, the method comprises deploying the set of instructions to the control unit of the object once the set of instructions have been generated. The method may then proceed to, and end with, step S9010. However, in examples, the method may proceed directly from step S9006 to step S9010. This may occur, for example, when deployment of the instructions which have been generated to the object is not required (at least, at the time those instructions have been generated, for example). Thus, smoothness and safety of the object as it traverses the incline can be achieved. It will be appreciated that the embodiments of the present disclosure are not particularly limited to the specific example method illustrated in Figure 9 of the present disclosure. For example, while the steps of the method of Figure 9 are illustrated in a particular order, the present disclosure is not limited in this regard. A number of the method steps shown in Figure 9 may be performed in a different order. Alternatively, or in addition, a number of the method steps shown in Figure 9 may be performed in parallel (such as steps S9002 and S9004, for example). Indeed, the method of Figure 9 may, in whole or in part, be repeated as many times as required. <Computer Program> Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the methods of the present disclosure may be carried out on hardware suitably adapted as applicable by software instruction or by the inclusion or substitution of dedicated hardware. Thus, the required adaptation to existing parts of a conventional equivalent device may be implemented in the form of a computer program product comprising processor implementable instructions stored on a non-transitory machine-readable medium such as a floppy disk, optical disk, hard disk, PROM, RAM, flash memory or any combination of these or other storage media, or realized in hardware as an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) or an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or other configurable circuit suitable to use in adapting the conventional equivalent device. Separately, such a computer program may be transmitted via data signals on a network such as an Ethernet, a wireless network, the Internet, or any combination of these or other networks. Again, it will be appreciated that while certain examples of the present disclosure have been described with reference to an example situation where of generation of instructions for control of a motorized chair of a stairlift, it will be appreciated that the present disclosure is not particularly limited in this regard. More generally, it will be appreciated that the embodiments of the disclosure may be applied to control of any suitable object configured to traverse an incline along a rail. The components may be a stairlift rail or may be a ramp component and the incline may be stairs, a staircase, a slope or the like that are either indoors or outdoors. It will be appreciated that numerous modifications and variations of the present disclosure are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the disclosure may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. In addition, embodiment of the present disclosure can be arranged in accordance with the following numbered clauses: 1) An apparatus for controlling operation of an object configured to traverse an incline along a track, the object comprising one or more actuating elements and a control unit configured to control the one or more actuating elements in accordance with a set of instructions, the apparatus comprising circuitry configured to: acquire a representation of the incline and a representation of the track; acquire physiological data of a person who will be located on the object when the object traverses the incline along the track; generate a set of instructions for controlling operation of the object based on the acquired representation of the incline, the representation of the track and the physiological data of the person, the set of instructions being generated to control the operation of the object to satisfy one or more predetermined conditions when the object traverses the incline along the track. 2) The apparatus according to clause 1, wherein the set of instructions comprise instructions concerning at least one of: a rotation of the object for different positions on the incline as the object traverses the incline along the track, a start position of the object on the track, an end position of the object on the track, or a speed of the object for different positions on the incline as the object traverses the incline along the track. 3) The apparatus according to clause 1 or 2, wherein the rotation includes at least one of a pan rotation, a tilt rotation and a roll rotation of the object. 4) The apparatus according to any preceding clause, wherein the physiological data of the person includes a least one of: the height of the person and the length of the person’s legs. 5) The apparatus according to any preceding clause, wherein the apparatus is configured to acquire image data of the person and acquire the physiological data of the person from the image data. 6) The apparatus according to any preceding clause, wherein the one or more predetermined conditions include at least one of: a condition to maximize smoothness of movement of the object when it traverses the incline, a condition to minimize a number of rotations of the object when it traverses the incline, a condition to maximize safety of movement when the object traverses the incline, and a condition to avoid collisions when the object traverses the incline. 7) The apparatus according to any preceding clause, wherein i) the representation of the incline comprises a three-dimensional model of the incline and / or ii) wherein the representation of the track comprises at least one of an indication of the path the object will take when traversing the incline and an indication of individual components forming sections of the track. 8) The apparatus according to any preceding clause, wherein the apparatus is further configured to generate a warning when a set of instructions to control operation of the object to satisfy the one or more predetermined conditions cannot be generated. 9) The apparatus according to clause 8, wherein the warning includes an indication of a change in the track which will be required in order that a set of instructions to control operation of the object to satisfy the one or more predetermined conditions can be generated. 10) The apparatus according to any preceding clause, wherein the circuitry is configured to deploy the instructions to the control unit of the object once the set of instructions have been generated. 11) The apparatus according to any preceding clause, wherein the incline is a staircase and the object is a seat of a stair lift. 12) A method of controlling operation of an object configured to traverse an incline along a track, the object comprising one or more actuating elements and a control unit configured to control the one or more actuating elements in accordance with a set of instructions, the apparatus comprising circuitry configured to: acquiring a representation of the incline and a representation of the track; acquiring physiological data of a person who will be located on the object when the object traverses the incline along the track; generating a set of instructions for controlling operation of the object based on the acquired representation of the incline, the representation of the track and the physiological data of the person, the set of instructions being generated to control the operation of the object to satisfy one or more predetermined conditions when the object traverses the incline along the track. 13) A computer program comprising instructions which, when implemented by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method according to clause 12. 14) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising the computer program according to clause 13. 15) A system comprising an object configured to traverse an incline and an apparatus according to any of clauses 1 to 11, the object comprising one or more actuating elements and a control unit configured to control the one or more actuating elements in accordance with a set of instructions. Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present disclosure are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the disclosure may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. In so far as embodiments of the disclosure have been described as being implemented, at least in part, by software-controlled data processing apparatus, it will be appreciated that a non-transitory machine-readable medium carrying such software, such as an optical disk, a magnetic disk, semiconductor memory or the like, is also considered to represent an embodiment of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated that the above description for clarity has described embodiments with reference to different functional units, circuitry and / or processors. However, it will be apparent that any suitable distribution of functionality between different functional units, circuitry and / or processors may be used without detracting from the embodiments. 5 Described embodiments may be implemented in any suitable form including hardware, software, firmware or any combination of these. Described embodiments may optionally be implemented at least partly as computer software running on one or more data processors and / or digital signal processors. The elements and components of any embodiment may be physically, functionally and logically implemented in any suitable way. Indeed the functionality 10 may be implemented in a single unit, in a plurality of units or as part of other functional units. As such, the disclosed embodiments may be implemented in a single unit or may be physically and functionally distributed between different units, circuitry and / or processors. Although the present disclosure has been described in connection with some embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein. Additionally, although a 15 feature may appear to be described in connection with particular embodiments, one skilled in the art would recognize that various features of the described embodiments may be combined in any manner suitable to implement the technique.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling operation of an object configured to traverse an incline along a track, the object comprising one or more actuating elements and a control unit configured to control the one or more actuating elements in accordance with a set of instructions, the apparatus comprising circuitry configured to:acquire a representation of the incline and a representation of the track;acquire physiological data of a person who will be located on the object when the object traverses the incline along the track;generate a set of instructions for controlling operation of the object based on the acquired representation of the incline, the representation of the track and the physiological data of the person, the set of instructions being generated to control the operation of the object to satisfy one or more predetermined conditions when the object traverses the incline along the track.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the set of instructions comprise instructions concerning at least one of: a rotation of the object for different positions on the incline as the object traverses the incline along the track, a start position of the object on the track, an end position of the object on the track, or a speed of the object for different positions on the incline as the object traverses the incline along the track.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation includes at least one of a pan rotation, a tilt rotation and a roll rotation of the object.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the physiological data of the person includes a least one of: the height of the person and the length of the person’s legs.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to acquire image data of the person and acquire the physiological data of the person from the image data.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one or more predetermined conditions include at least one of: a condition to maximize smoothness of movement of the object when it traverses the incline, a condition to minimize a number of rotations of the object when it traverses the incline, a condition to maximize safety of movement when the object traverses the incline, and a condition to avoid collisions when the object traverses the incline.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein i) the representation of the incline comprises a three-dimensional model of the incline and / or ii) wherein the representation of the track comprises at least one of an indication of the path the object will take when traversing the incline and an indication of individual components forming sections of the track.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further configured to generate a warning when a set of instructions to control operation of the object to satisfy the one or more predetermined conditions cannot be generated.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the warning includes an indication of a change in the track which will be required in that a set of instructions to control operation of the object to satisfy the one or more predetermined conditions can be generated.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is configured to deploy the instructions to the control unit of the object once the set of instructions have been generated.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the incline is a staircase and the object is a seat of a stair lift.

12. A method of controlling operation of an object configured to traverse an incline along a track, the object comprising one or more actuating elements and a control unit configured to control the one or more actuating elements in accordance with a set of instructions, the apparatus comprising circuitry configured to:acquiring a representation of the incline and a representation of the track;acquiring physiological data of a person who will be located on the object when the object traverses the incline along the track;generating a set of instructions for controlling operation of the object based on the acquired representation of the incline, the representation of the track and the physiological data of the person, the set of instructions being generated to control the operation of the object to satisfy one or more predetermined conditions when the object traverses the incline along the track.

13. A computer program comprising instructions which, when implemented by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method according to claim 12.

14. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising the computer program according to claim 13.

15. A system comprising an object configured to traverse an incline and an apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 11, the object comprising one or more actuating elements and a control unit configured to control the one or more actuating elements in accordance with a set of instructions.

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