Autonomous flying object, elevator inspection system, elevator inspection method, and program

Abstract

To efficiently carry out inspection work by using an autonomous flying object without stopping an elevator operation.SOLUTION: An autonomous flying object comprises: an inspection unit that carries out inspection work in a hoistway through which a car allowing a user to board can vertically move in an elevator; and a control unit that retreats the autonomous flying object to a floor where the car does not move on the basis of a current position of the car, a current position of the autonomous flying object, a floor where a landing call has been made, and a destination direction of the landing call when a message indicating the arrival of the landing call from an autonomous flying object management server and the current position of the car are received, and retreats the autonomous flying object to the floor where the car does not move, on the basis of the current position of the car, the current position of the autonomous flying object, and the destination floor of a destination floor call when the message indicating the arrival of the landing call from the autonomous flying object management server and the current position of the car are received.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to an autonomous flying vehicle, an elevator inspection system, an elevator inspection method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, elevator inspection work has been carried out by inspection workers going to the local elevator. However, for visually inspected items, a method of using an imaging device such as a camera fixed inside the elevator as an alternative has been considered. When installing a camera in the elevator car or in the hoistway to inspect the hoistway, there are many blind spots and it may be difficult to inspect locations that are difficult to visually recognize. As an alternative method for inspecting such locations that are difficult to visually recognize in blind spots, an inspection method using an autonomous flying vehicle such as a drone can be considered.

[0003] In the inspection method using an autonomous flying vehicle, there is concern about contact with obstacles during the flight of the autonomous flying vehicle. As a method of avoiding contact, there is a method of providing a sensor for detecting an object on the autonomous flying vehicle to avoid it, or a method of detecting a marker installed on the movement path to avoid an object. However, both technologies assume that surrounding objects are stationary.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in order to use such an inspection technology using an autonomous flying object for the inspection work of an elevator, it is difficult to fly the autonomous flying object during the service time of the elevator. Therefore, it is necessary to stop the operation of the elevator according to the maintenance inspection. For this reason, it is desired to perform efficient inspection work using an autonomous flying object without stopping the operation of the elevator.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] The autonomous flying object of the embodiment is an autonomous flying object capable of inspecting an elevator, and includes an imaging unit, a communication unit capable of wireless communication with an autonomous flying object management server that manages the autonomous flying object, and a inspection unit that executes inspection work in a hoistway where a car that a user can board in the elevator can move up and down. When the communication unit receives from the autonomous flying object management server that there is a landing call, which is an operation to cause the car to arrive at the landing waiting for the arrival of the car in the elevator from the user in the landing in either the up or down direction, and the current position of the car, based on the current position of the car, the current position of the autonomous flying object, the floor where the landing call was made, and the direction of travel in the landing call, the autonomous flying object is retracted and moved to a floor where the car does not move. When the communication unit receives from the autonomous flying object management server that there is a destination floor call, which is an operation to cause the user in the car to direct the car to a desired destination floor, and the current position of the car, based on the current position of the car, the current position of the autonomous flying object, and the destination floor in the destination floor call, the autonomous flying object is retracted and moved to a floor where the car does not move. The control unit is provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an elevator inspection system 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the elevator inspection system 1 of the present embodiment mainly includes a control panel 100 provided in the elevator 600, a controller 150 provided in the elevator 600, a control room 160 provided in the elevator 600, a server 210 in the hoistway cloud 200, a server 510 in the drone cloud 500, and a monitoring center 400.

[0009] In this embodiment, one elevator 600 is installed in a building 7 such as an office building or an apartment building. The elevator 600 includes a car 50 in each hoistway 20. In addition, a hoisting machine 2 and a counterweight 3 are provided in the hoistway 20. The car 50 and the counterweight 3 are each supported so as to be movable up and down on a pair of guide rails (not shown) erected in the hoistway 20, and move up and down via a rope.

[0010] The car 50 can be boarded by users (including robots, etc.). The hoistway 20 is a space where the car 50 can move up and down.

[0011] An operation panel 4A is provided on the inner wall surface of the car 50. The operation panel 4A receives various operations from the user and provides various notifications to the car 50. The operation panel 4A is provided with push buttons, non-contact sensors, speakers, liquid crystal display units, etc. (none of which are shown) for designating the destination floor and opening and closing the door of the car 50. Further, the operation panel 4A is connected to the control panel 100 by wire or wirelessly. When the user presses the push button for the destination floor or detection is made by the non-contact sensor, a destination floor call is sent to the control panel 100.

[0012] Here, a destination floor call is an operation performed by a user in the car 50 to move the car 50 to a desired destination floor. A destination floor call includes the destination floor. The operation panel 4A is an example of a second operation panel. In addition, the car 50 may be provided with a camera, a load sensor, etc.

[0013] FIG. 1 shows an example of an elevator 600 in which the car 50 can move up and down in the hoistway 20 from the first floor to the fifth floor. However, the number of floors is not limited to this. And on each floor, a landing where the user waits for the arrival of the car is provided.

[0014] An operation panel 4B is provided on the wall surface provided with the elevator door at each floor landing. The operation panel 4B receives various operations from the user and provides various notifications to the car 50. The operation panel 4B is provided with push buttons, non-contact sensors, speakers, liquid crystal display units, etc. (none of which are shown) for designating the upward or downward destination direction and opening and closing the door of the car 50. Further, the operation panel 4B is connected to the control panel 100 by wire or wirelessly. When the user presses the push button for the destination direction or detection is made by the non-contact sensor, a landing call is sent to the control panel 100.

[0015] Here, the landing call is an operation performed by a user of the landing to bring the car 50 going in either the up or down destination direction to that landing. The landing call includes the destination direction and the floor on which the landing call is made. The operation panel 4B is an example of the first operation panel.

[0016] Inside the hoistway 20, a control panel 100 and a controller 150 are provided. The control panel 100 is connected wirelessly or wired to the operation panel 4A provided in the car 50 and the operation panel 4B provided at the landing.

[0017] The control panel 100 controls the operation of the car 50 in the elevator 600. The control panel 100 is connected to the controller 150 wirelessly or wired.

[0018] The controller 150 is connected to the server 210 in the elevator cloud 200 via a network. The controller 150 is an intermediary device having an interface function and a hub function for controlling the communication between the control panel 100 and the server 210 and mediating various signals exchanged between the control panel 100 and the server 210. Details of the control panel 100 will be described later.

[0019] At the upper part inside the hoistway 20, a drone antenna 21 is provided. This drone antenna 21 is a device responsible for transmitting and receiving radio waves in wireless communication with the server of the drone cloud 500 and transmitting and receiving radio waves in wireless communication with the drone 300 flying inside the hoistway 20.

[0020] At a plurality of locations in the hoistway 20, inspection item markers 45 and evacuation markers 23 are pasted. The inspection item marker 45 indicates information regarding inspection items in the inspection work of the elevator 600 by the drone 300. Specifically, the inspection item marker 45 is composed of a two-dimensional barcode, and the two-dimensional barcode contains information on the current position of the drone 300 (i.e., the position where the inspection item marker 45 is attached), the content of the inspection item, and the moving direction and distance to the next inspection item marker 45. The inspection item marker 45 is an example of inspection item information.

[0021] The attachment locations of the inspection item marker 45 are the main inspection items of the elevator 600, namely the hoist 2, brake, main rope 5, main sheave, control panel 100, governor, limit switch, hold door, guide rail, bracket, guide shoe, roller, oil feeder, landing switch, car sheave, around the car, counterweight 3, tail cord, emergency stop device, tensioner, pit, and buffer. The attachment position of the inspection item marker 45 shall be the inspection equipment main body, and if attachment is difficult, it shall be near each inspection equipment.

[0022] The drone 300 described later searches for these inspection item markers 45 while flying, and by scanning and analyzing the two-dimensional barcode of the searched inspection item marker 45, the inspection items can be executed.

[0023] The evacuation marker 23 indicates information regarding the evacuation location of the drone 300 when the car 50 moves. Specifically, the evacuation marker 23 is composed of a two-dimensional barcode, and the two-dimensional barcode contains information on the current position of the drone 300 (i.e., the position where the evacuation marker 23 is attached), the moving direction and distance to the next evacuation marker 23, and the moving direction and distance to the inspection item marker 45. The evacuation marker 23 is an example of evacuation information.

[0024] The attachment locations of the avoidance markers 23 are set on the movement path of the car and on the movement path of the counterweight 3b. The attachment location of the avoidance marker 23 on the movement path of the car 50 is positioned slightly below the floor level at the top of the hoistway 20 to avoid contact between the drone 300 and the car 50 due to the vertical movement of the car 50 and to minimize the vertical movement distance associated with the avoidance of the drone 300.

[0025] While the drone 300 is flying, it searches for these avoidance markers 23, scans and analyzes the two-dimensional barcodes of the searched avoidance markers 23, enabling avoidance movement.

[0026] Also, a charger 22 is provided at the lower part within the hoistway 20. The charger 22 is connected to a charging unit 305 (see FIG. 5) of the drone 300 and charges the drone 300.

[0027] In the control room 160, the manager of Building 7 is present and gives various instructions to the control panel 100. Also, the manager in the control room 160 receives various instructions from the control panel 100 via email or the like through a PC or a terminal device.

[0028] The server 210 in the elevator penthouse 200 instructs the control panel 100 to perform various controls on the car 50 of the elevator 600 via the controller 150, and receives various requests and various data from the control panel 100 via the controller 150. The server 210 in the elevator penthouse 200 is connected to the monitoring center 400 (in-house server) via a network and to the server 510 of the drone cloud 500. The server 210 in the elevator penthouse 200 is an example of an elevator management device.

[0029] The monitoring center 400 is equipped with an in-house server (not shown). The in-house server is installed within the relevant company of the elevator 600 and collects information necessary for the maintenance management and remote monitoring of the elevator 600 from the elevator 600. According to this, when a malfunction occurs in the elevator 600, the maintenance staff can refer to the information necessary for maintenance management collected by the in-house server of the monitoring center 400 to deal with the occurred malfunction. Also, when functions and services are executed through the elevator cloud 200, it is possible to access the in-house server of the monitoring center 400 as needed to refer to building and elevator information, or for the maintenance staff to obtain information necessary for elevator management.

[0030] In addition, the in-house server of the monitoring center 400 transmits various instructions to the drone 300 via wireless communication.

[0031] The server 510 of the drone cloud 500 receives various requests and various data from the server 210 of the elevator cloud 200. The server 510 of the drone cloud 500 is connected to a plurality of drones 300 within the elevator 600 via a network and transmits various instructions to each of the plurality of drones 300. The server 510 of the drone cloud 500 is an example of an autonomous flying object management server. Details of the server 210 of the elevator cloud 200 and the server 510 of the drone cloud 500 will be described later.

[0032] The drone 300 is an aircraft capable of wireless operation and includes various types and sizes for entertainment, aerial photography, luggage transportation, etc. Also, the drone 300 includes those that perform line-of-sight flight (manual flight) based on images obtained from the mounted imaging unit 306, those that automatically fly to the destination according to a program, etc. The drone 300 is an example of an unmanned aerial vehicle. Details of the drone 300 will be described later.

[0033] Note that the number of elevators is not limited to one, and a plurality of elevators may be provided in Building 7. Therefore, the numbers of the hoistways 20, the cabs 50, the control panels 100, and the controllers 150 also vary according to the number of the elevators 600.

[0034] Next, the control panel 100 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the control panel 100 according to the first embodiment.

[0035] The control panel 100 is an example of an elevator control device. The control panel 100 has a general computer configuration and mainly includes a control unit 101, a communication unit 102, and a storage unit 110, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0036] The storage unit 110 is a storage medium (i.e., a memory device) such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a RAM (RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY). Various control programs and the like are stored in the storage unit 110.

[0037] The control unit 101 consists of a hardware processor (CPU: Central Processing Unit). The control unit 101 reads out and executes various control programs from the storage unit 110 to perform the operation control of the elevator 600. Here, as the main functions required for the operation control of the elevator 600, for example, a function of registering a landing call or a destination floor call, a function of driving and controlling the hoist 2 and controlling the vertical movement of the cab 50 based on the landing call or the destination floor call, a safety function of controlling the speed of the cab 50, a function of controlling the opening and closing of the doors of the cab 50, a function of controlling the lighting of the cab 50, etc. are performed.

[0038] The communication unit 102 consists of a communication device having a predetermined communication protocol and performs communication processing between the control panel 100 and the controller 150. Also, the communication unit 102 transmits and receives various instructions and notifications to and from the mobile terminals or PCs of the managers in the control room 160.

[0039] In this embodiment, when a landing call is made to the operation panel 4B provided at the landing, the communication unit 102 receives the landing call and transmits the received landing call and the current position of the car 50 to the server 210 in the elevator penthouse 200 via the controller 150.

[0040] Also, when a destination floor call is made by the user to the operation panel 4A provided in the car 50, the communication unit 102 receives the destination floor call and transmits the received destination floor call and the current position of the car 50 to the server 210 in the elevator penthouse 200. The communication unit 102 is an example of a first communication unit.

[0041] Next, the server 210 in the elevator penthouse 200 will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the server 210 in the elevator penthouse 200 according to the first embodiment. The server 210 mainly includes a control unit 211, a communication unit 212, and a storage unit 220 as a general computer configuration.

[0042] The storage unit 220 is a storage medium (memory device) such as a ROM or a RAM. Various control programs are stored in the storage unit 220.

[0043] The control unit 211 is composed of a hardware processor (CPU). The control unit 211 issues various control instructions to the control panel 100 via the controller 150.

[0044] The communication unit 212 is composed of a communication device having a predetermined communication protocol, and performs communication processing between the server 210 and the control panel 100 via the controller 150, and communication processing between the server 210 and the server 510 in the drone penthouse 500.

[0045] In this embodiment, when a landing call is made at the landing of the elevator 600 via the controller 150 from the control panel 100, the communication unit 212 receives the landing call and the current position of the car 50. When the communication unit 212 receives the landing call and the current position of the car 50, it transmits the received landing call and the current position of the car 50 to the server 510 of the drone cloud 500.

[0046] Also, when a destination floor call is made in the car 50 of the elevator 600 via the controller 150 from the control panel 100, the communication unit 212 receives the destination floor call and the current position of the car 50. When the communication unit 212 receives the destination floor call and the current position of the car 50, it transmits the received destination floor call and the current position of the car 50 to the server 510 of the drone cloud 500.

[0047] Next, the server 510 in the drone cloud 500 will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the server 510 in the drone cloud 500 according to the first embodiment. The server 510 mainly includes a control unit 511, a communication unit 512, and a storage unit 520 as a general computer configuration.

[0048] The storage unit 520 is a storage medium (memory device) such as a ROM or a RAM. Various control programs 325 are stored in the storage unit 520. The control unit 511 consists of a hardware processor (CPU). The control unit 511 controls various processes related to the drone 300.

[0049] The communication unit 512 consists of a communication device having a predetermined communication protocol, and performs communication processing between the server 510 and the server 210 in the elevator cloud 200, and communication processing between the server 510 and the drone 300.

[0050] In this embodiment, the communication unit 512 receives a landing call and the current position of the elevator car from the server 210 in the elevator cloud 200. When the communication unit 512 receives the landing call and the current position of the elevator car, it transmits to the drone 300 the fact that there is a landing call and the current position of the elevator car 50.

[0051] In addition, the communication unit 512 receives a destination floor call and the current position of the elevator car from the server 210 in the elevator cloud 200. When the communication unit 512 receives the destination floor call and the current position of the elevator car, it transmits to the drone 300 the fact that there is a destination floor call and the current position of the elevator car 50.

[0052] Next, the drone 300 will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the drone 300 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the drone 300 mainly includes an imaging unit 306, a sound collection unit 307, a temperature detection unit 308, an antenna 301, a communication unit 312, an inspection unit 302, a control unit 311, a drive unit 303, a storage unit 320, a battery 304, and a charging unit 305.

[0053] The imaging unit 306 is a camera or the like that images the surroundings of the drone 300, and stores the captured image in the storage unit 320. The sound collection unit 307 is a microphone or the like that collects sound from the surroundings of the drone 300, and stores the collected sound data in the storage unit 320. The temperature detection unit 308 is a temperature sensor or thermometer that detects the temperature around the drone 300, and stores the detected temperature in the storage unit 320.

[0054] The antenna 301 is a device that is responsible for transmitting and receiving radio waves through wireless communication with the drone antenna 21 in the elevator 600.

[0055] The communication unit 312 consists of a communication device with a predetermined communication protocol, and performs communication processing with the server 510 of the drone cloud 500 via the antenna 301 and the drone antenna 21 in the elevator 600. The communication unit 312 of the present embodiment receives from the server 510 of the drone cloud 500 in the elevator 600 that there has been a landing call, a destination floor call, and the current position of the car 50.

[0056] The storage unit 320 is a storage medium (memory device) such as ROM or RAM. Various control programs are stored in the storage unit 220.

[0057] The drive unit 303 is controlled by the control unit 311 and drives the flight of the drone 300. The battery 304 is a storage battery. The charging unit 305 is a terminal connectable to the charger 22 in the hoistway 20, and when connected to the charger 22, the battery 304 is charged.

[0058] The inspection unit 302 performs inspection work in the hoistway where the car that can be boarded by the user in the elevator 600 can move up and down. In the present embodiment, when the communication unit 312 receives from the server 510 of the drone cloud 500 that the car 50 is at the top floor as the current position, the inspection unit 302 inspects from the bottom floor to one floor below the top floor in the hoistway 20.

[0059] As an example of the inspection process executed by the inspection unit 302, there are inspection works such as the hoist 2, brakes, main rope 5, main sheave, control panel 100, governor, limit switch, landing door, guide rail, bracket, guide shoe, roller, oil feeder, landing switch, car sheave, around the car, counterweight 3, tail cord, emergency stop device, tensioner, pit, buffer, etc. However, the inspection items are not limited to these.

[0060] Here, the inspection unit 302 searches for inspection item markers 45 provided at multiple locations in the hoistway 20 by the imaging unit 306, and executes an inspection operation based on the information of the searched inspection item markers 45.

[0061] When the communication unit 312 receives from the server 510 of the drone cloud 500 that there has been a landing call and the current position of the car 50, the control unit 311 controls the drive unit 303 based on the current position of the car 50, the current position of the drone 300, the floor where the landing call was made, and the destination direction in the landing call, and moves the drone 300 to a floor where the car 50 does not move for evacuation.

[0062] When the communication unit 312 receives from the server 510 of the drone cloud 500 that there has been a destination floor call and the current position of the car 50, the control unit 311 controls the drive unit 303 based on the current position of the car 50, the current position of the drone 300, and the destination floor in the destination floor call, and moves the drone 300 to a floor where the car 50 does not move for evacuation.

[0063] When the communication unit 312 receives from the server 510 of the drone cloud 500 that there has been a landing call and the current position of the car 50, and when the destination direction in the landing call is downward, the control unit 311 controls the drive unit 303 to move the drone 300 for evacuation to at least two floors below the floor where the landing call was made.

[0064] Furthermore, after the communication unit 312 receives from the server 510 of the drone cloud 500 that there has been a downward landing call, and then further receives that there has been a destination floor call, when the destination floor is below the floor where the landing call was made (i.e., the current floor of the car 50), the control unit 311 controls the drive unit 303 to move the drone 300 for evacuation to at least one floor below the destination floor.

[0065] When the communication unit 312 receives from the server 510 of the drone cloud 500 that there is a call for a boarding area and the current position of the car 50, if the destination direction in the call for the boarding area is upward, the control unit 311 controls the drive unit 303 to move the drone 300 to a floor at least one floor below the floor where the call for the boarding area was made for evacuation.

[0066] After the communication unit 312 receives from the server 510 of the drone cloud 500 that there is an upward call for a boarding area, when the control unit 311 further receives that there is a call for a destination floor, if the destination floor is above the floor where the call for the boarding area was made (i.e., the current floor of the car 50), the drone is not moved for evacuation.

[0067] Here, the control unit 311 searches for evacuation markers 23 provided at multiple locations in the hoistway 20 by the imaging unit 306, and moves the drone 300 for evacuation based on the information of the searched evacuation markers 23.

[0068] Next, the elevator inspection process according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

[0069] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the elevator inspection process according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 6, the operation of the car 50 is also described together.

[0070] First, the drone 300 moves to the bottom of the hoistway 20 and starts inspecting the elevator 600 with the drone 300 (S11), and then. In the drone 300, the communication unit 312 receives the current position of the car 50 from the server 510 of the drone cloud 500, and the control unit 311 confirms the current position of the car 50 (S12).

[0071] If the current position of the car 50 is any floor from the first floor to (the top floor - 1) floor (waiting at 1 to (the top floor - 1) floors in S12), the drone 300 waits until the car 50 moves to the top floor (S13).

[0072] In S12, when the current position of the car 50 is the top floor (SS12: Waiting at the top floor), the communication unit 312 receives a flight instruction from the monitoring center 400 (S14). Then, in the drone 300, the control unit 311 controls the driving unit 303 to start flying (S15). And the inspection unit 302 starts inspecting the bottom of the hoistway 20 (S16).

[0073] When the inspection of the bottom is completed (S17), the drone 300 moves up one floor by the control of the driving unit 303 by the control unit 311 (S18). And the inspection unit 302 starts inspecting the first floor. The drone 300 repeatedly executes such inspection work while ascending floor by floor. And the control unit 311, during the inspection, for example, after the inspection from the top floor to the first floor (S19), determines whether the communication unit 312 has received a boarding call from the server 510 of the drone cloud 500 (S20). If it has not received a boarding call (S21: No), the process proceeds to S36.

[0074] In S36, the inspection unit 302 completes the inspection from the top floor to the first floor (S36). And the drone 300 returns to the bottom by the control of the driving unit 303 by the control unit 311 (S37), and the process ends.

[0075] In S20, assuming that the communication unit 312 has received a boarding call (S21: Yes), the following two cases are considered.

[0076] As the first case, when the boarding call is made at the Nth floor (where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1) and the destination direction is downward (S20: Nth floor, downward), the drone 300 moves to the (N - 2)th floor for evacuation (S22). And the car 50 moves to the Nth floor (S23). Next, the control unit 311 of the drone 300 determines whether the communication unit 312 has received a destination floor call from the server 510 of the drone cloud 500 (S24). If it has not received a destination floor call (S24: No), it waits for the reception of a destination floor call.

[0077] When it receives a destination floor call and the destination floor is N - 1 floor, that is, when it is a descent of one floor (S24: N - 1 floor (one - floor descent)), the drone 300 waits at N - 2 floor (S25). Then, the car 50 moves to N - 1 floor (S26). Then, the process proceeds to S27.

[0078] In S24, when it receives a destination floor call and the destination floor is N - 2 floor, that is, when it is a descent of two floors (S24: N - 2 floor (two - floor descent)), the drone 300 moves to N - 3 floor and waits (S29). Then, the car 50 moves to N - 2 floor (S30). Then, the process proceeds to S27.

[0079] In S27, when the use of the elevator 600 ends (S27), the car 50 moves to the top floor (S28). Then, the drone 30 moves to the top floor - 1 floor, resumes inspection (S29). Then, the process proceeds to S36.

[0080] As the second case in S20, when the communication unit 312 receives a landing call (S21: Yes), if the landing call is made at the Nth floor (where N is an integer of 1 or more) and the destination direction is upward (S20: Nth floor, upward direction), the drone 300 retreats to the N - 1 floor (S31).

[0081] Then, the car 50 moves to the Nth floor (S32). Next, the control unit 311 of the drone 300 determines whether the communication unit 312 has received a destination floor call from the server 510 of the drone cloud 500 (S33). If it has not received a destination floor call (S33: No), it waits for the reception of a destination floor call.

[0082] Upon receiving a notice that there is a destination floor call, when the destination floor is the N+1 floor, that is, when it is a one-floor ascent (S33: N+1 floor (one-floor descent)), the drone 300 waits at the N-1 floor, which is the current position (S34). Then, the car 50 moves to the N+1 floor (S235). Then, the process proceeds to S27.

[0083] Next, the details of the inspection process in S16 will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the detailed procedure of the inspection process by the drone 300 according to the first embodiment.

[0084] First, the inspection unit 302 of the drone 300 receives an inspection start instruction from the monitoring center 400 (S51). In the drone 300, the imaging unit 306 searches for the inspection item marker 45 in the hoistway 20 (S52).

[0085] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the attachment of the inspection item marker 45 and the evacuation marker 23 in the hoistway 20 according to the first embodiment. The drone 300 searches for the inspection item marker 45 shown in the example of FIG. 9.

[0086] When the imaging unit 306 detects the inspection item marker 45 (S53), the drone 300 controls the drive unit 303 by the control unit 311 and moves toward the inspection item marker 45 (S54). Then, the inspection unit 302 starts the inspection (S55).

[0087] When the inspection is completed (S56), in the drone 300, the imaging unit 306 searches for the next inspection item marker 45 in the hoistway 20 (S57). When the imaging unit 306 detects the inspection item marker 45 (S58), the above processes of S54 to S56 are repeatedly executed each time the inspection item marker 45 is detected. When the processing for all the inspection item markers 45 is completed (S59), it returns to the calling source.

[0088] Next, the details of the evacuation movement process in S22 of FIG. 6 will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the detailed procedure of the evacuation movement process of the drone 300 according to the first embodiment.

[0089] In the drone 300, the imaging unit 306 searches for the evacuation marker 23 on the N - 1st floor (S72). When the imaging unit 306 detects the evacuation marker 23 on the N - 1st floor (S73), the drone 300 controls the driving unit 303 by the control unit 311 and starts moving toward the evacuation marker 23 on the N - 1st floor (S74).

[0090] When the drone 300 completes the movement to the N - 1st floor (S75), the imaging unit 306 searches for the evacuation marker 23 on the N - 2nd floor (S76). The drone 300 searches for the evacuation marker 23 as shown in the example of FIG. 9.

[0091] When the imaging unit 306 detects the evacuation marker 23 on the N - 2nd floor (S77), the drone 300 controls the driving unit 303 by the control unit 311 and starts moving toward the evacuation marker 23 on the N - 2nd floor (S78).

[0092] Then, when the drone 300 completes the movement to the N - 2nd floor (S79), it returns to the calling source. Note that an evacuation movement is also performed in S31 of FIG. 6, and such a process is also performed in the same procedure as FIG. 8. However, in this case, the process returns during the evacuation movement from the Nth floor to the N - 1st floor.

[0093] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the movement of the drone 300 based on the inspection item marker 45 and the evacuation marker 23 in the first embodiment. FIG. 10(a) shows an installation example of the inspection item marker 45 and the evacuation marker 23 in the elevator shaft 20. FIG. 10(b) shows the movement path of the drone 300 based on the inspection item marker 45 and the evacuation marker 23 in the elevator shaft 20.

[0094] The inspection item marker 45 is attached from the bottom to the top of the hoistway 20, taking as an example the case where the evacuation marker 23 is attached to the bottom as shown in Fig. 10(a). In this case, as shown in Fig. 10(b), the drone 300 moves and inspects from the bottom to the top following the inspection item marker 45, and finally evacuates to the bottom based on the evacuation marker 23.

[0095] Next, the details of the return process of the drone 300 in S29 of Fig. 6 will be described. Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the detailed procedure of the return process of the drone 300 according to the first embodiment.

[0096] In the drone 300, the imaging unit 306 searches for the evacuation marker 23 on the top floor - 2nd floor (S92). When the imaging unit 306 detects the evacuation marker 23 on the top floor - 2nd floor (S93), the drone 300 starts moving toward the evacuation marker 23 on the top floor - 2nd floor by controlling the drive unit 303 with the control unit 311 (S94).

[0097] When the drone 300 completes the movement to the top floor - 2nd floor (S95), the imaging unit 306 searches for the evacuation marker 23 on the top floor - 1st floor (S96).

[0098] When the imaging unit 306 detects the evacuation marker 23 on the top floor - 1st floor (S97), the drone 300 starts moving toward the evacuation marker 23 on the top floor - 1st floor by controlling the drive unit 303 with the control unit 311 (S98).

[0099] When the drone 300 completes the movement to the top floor - 1st floor (S99), it returns to the caller.

[0100] Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the movement of the drone 300 in the first embodiment. In Fig. 12, consider the case where the top floor is the 5th floor and the initial position of the car 50 is on the 5th floor.

[0101] In such a case, the drone 300 ascends after performing inspections from the first floor to the fourth floor. Then, consider the case where a landing call with the destination direction being downward is made on the fourth floor. At this time, the drone 300 descends to the second floor, and then the car body 50 lands on the fourth floor.

[0102] After that, assume that a destination floor call with the destination floor being the third floor is made in the car body 50 in which the user has boarded on the fourth floor. In this case, the drone 300 waits on the second floor as it is, and the car body 50 moves to the third floor. After the user gets off at the third floor and finishes using the elevator 600, when the car body 50 moves to the fifth floor which is the top floor, the drone 300 ascends to the fourth floor and resumes the inspection. The above is due to the execution of the processes from S21 to S29 in FIG. 6.

[0103] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing another example of the movement of the drone 300 in the first embodiment. In FIG. 13, consider the case where the top floor is the fifth floor and the initial position of the car body 50 is the fifth floor.

[0104] In such a case, the drone 300 ascends after performing inspections from the first floor to the fourth floor. Then, consider the case where a landing call with the destination direction being upward is made on the fourth floor. At this time, the drone 300 descends to the third floor, and then the car body 50 lands on the fourth floor.

[0105] After that, assume that a destination floor call with the destination floor being the fifth floor is made in the car body 50 in which the user has boarded on the fourth floor. In this case, the drone 300 waits on the third floor as it is, and the car body 50 moves to the fifth floor which is the destination floor. After the user gets off at the fifth floor and finishes using the elevator 600, the drone 300 ascends to the fourth floor and resumes the inspection. The above is due to the execution of the processes from S21 to S35 in FIG. 6.

[0106] Thus, in this embodiment, when the communication unit 312 of the control unit 311 of the drone 300 in the elevator inspection system 1 receives from the server 510 of the drone cloud 500 that there has been a landing call and the current position of the car 50, based on the current position of the car 50, the current position of the drone 300, the floor where the landing call was made, and the destination direction in the landing call, the drive unit 303 is controlled to move the drone 300 to a floor where the car 50 does not move for evacuation. Also, in this embodiment, when the communication unit 312 of the control unit 311 of the drone 300 in the elevator inspection system 1 receives from the server 510 of the drone cloud 500 that there has been a destination floor call and the current position of the car 50, based on the current position of the car 50, the current position of the drone 300, and the destination floor in the destination floor call, the drive unit 303 is controlled to move the drone 300 to a floor where the car 50 does not move for evacuation.

[0107] Therefore, according to this embodiment, when the car 50 moves up and down in the hoistway 20 due to a landing call or a destination floor call, the drone 300 being inspected in the hoistway 20 is moved to a floor where the car 50 does not move for evacuation. Thus, an efficient inspection operation can be performed using the drone 300 without stopping the operation of the elevator 600.

[0108] Also, in this embodiment, when the communication unit 312 of the control unit 311 of the drone 300 in the elevator inspection system 1 receives from the server 510 of the drone cloud 500 that there has been a landing call and the current position of the car 50, and when the destination direction in the landing call is downward, the drive unit 303 is controlled to move the drone 300 to at least two floors below the floor where the landing call was made for evacuation.

[0109] Therefore, according to this embodiment, when the car 50 moves downward in the hoistway 20 from the landing call where the destination floor direction is downward, from the floor where the landing call was made, the drone 300 being inspected in the hoistway 20 moves to a floor at least two floors below the floor where the landing call was made as the floor where the car 50 does not move. Thus, an efficient inspection operation can be performed using the drone 300 without stopping the operation of the elevator 600.

[0110] Also, in this embodiment, when the communication unit 312 of the control unit 311 of the drone 300 in the elevator inspection system 1 receives from the server 510 of the drone cloud 500 that there is a downward landing call, and then further receives that there is a destination floor call, when the destination floor is a floor below the floor where the landing call was made (i.e., the current floor of the car 50), the drive unit 303 is controlled to move the drone 300 to a floor at least one floor below the destination floor for evacuation.

[0111] Therefore, according to this embodiment, after a downward landing call, when there is a destination floor call from the car 50 at the landing where the destination floor is a floor below the current floor of the car 50, the drone 300 being inspected in the hoistway 20 moves to a floor at least one floor below the destination floor as the floor where the car 50 does not move for evacuation. Thus, an efficient inspection operation can be performed using the drone 300 without stopping the operation of the elevator 600.

[0112] Also, in this embodiment, when the communication unit 312 of the control unit 311 of the drone 300 in the elevator inspection system 1 receives from the server 510 of the drone cloud 500 that there is a landing call and the current position of the car 50, when the destination direction in the landing call is upward, the drive unit 303 is controlled to move the drone 300 to a floor at least one floor below the floor where the landing call was made for evacuation.

[0113] Therefore, according to this embodiment, when the car 50 moves upward in the hoistway 20 from the landing call where the destination floor direction is upward from the floor where the landing call was made, the drone 300 being inspected in the hoistway 20 retreats and moves to at least one floor below the floor where the landing call was made as the floor where the car 50 does not move. Thus, an efficient inspection operation can be performed using the drone 300 without stopping the operation of the elevator 600.

[0114] Also, in this embodiment, when the communication unit 312 of the control unit 311 of the drone 300 in the elevator inspection system 1 receives from the server 510 of the drone cloud 500 that there is an upward landing call, and further receives that there is a destination floor call, when the destination floor is above the floor where the landing call was made (i.e., the current floor of the car 50), the drone is not made to retreat and move.

[0115] Therefore, according to this embodiment, when after an upward landing call, there is a destination floor call from the car 50 at the landing where the destination floor is above the current floor of the car 50, the drone 300 being inspected in the hoistway 20 does not retreat and move assuming that the current floor is the floor where the car 50 does not move. Thus, an efficient inspection operation can be performed using the drone 300 without stopping the operation of the elevator 600.

[0116] Also, in this embodiment, inspection item markers 45 indicating inspection items are provided at a plurality of locations in the hoistway 20 of the elevator 600 in the elevator inspection system 1. The inspection unit 302 of the drone 300 searches for the inspection item markers 45 by the imaging unit 306 and executes an inspection operation based on the searched inspection item markers 45. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the drone 300 only needs to execute the inspection operation according to the inspection item markers 45, so that a more efficient inspection operation can be performed using the drone 300 without stopping the operation of the elevator 600.

[0117] In addition, in this embodiment, within the hoistway 20 of the elevator 600 of the elevator inspection system 1, an evacuation marker 23 indicating an evacuation location is provided. The control unit 311 of the drone 300 searches for the evacuation marker 23 by the imaging unit 306, and based on the retrieved evacuation information, moves the autonomous flying body to evacuate. Therefore, according to this embodiment, since the drone 300 only needs to move to evacuate according to the evacuation marker 23, it is possible to perform more efficient inspection work using the drone 300 without stopping the operation of the elevator 600.

[0118] (Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, when the car 50 moves, the drone 300 is evacuated to a floor where the car 50 does not move. However, in this second embodiment, the drone 300 is evacuated to an area outside the movement path of the car 50.

[0119] The respective configurations of the elevator inspection system 1, the control panel 100, the server 210 of the elevator cloud 200, the server 510 of the drone cloud 500, and the drone 300 according to this embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment.

[0120] In the drone 300 according to this embodiment, the following points are different from those in the first embodiment. The inspection unit 302 can inspect from the lowest floor to the highest floor within the hoistway 20. The control unit 311 is a case where the communication unit 312 receives a call for a landing or a destination floor call from the server 510 of the drone cloud 500. Based on the current position of the car 50, the current position of the drone 300, the floor where the landing call was made, the direction of the destination in the landing call, or the current position of the car, the current position of the drone 300, and the destination floor in the destination floor call, the drone 300 is moved to evacuate to an area outside the movement path of the car 50 within the hoistway 20.

[0121] In this embodiment, the evacuation marker 23 is installed in an area outside the movement path of the car 50. Specifically, the evacuation marker 23 is attached to the counterweight 3 existing in an area outside the above movement path or in the vicinity of the counterweight 3.

[0122] Next, the elevator inspection process in this embodiment will be described. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the elevator inspection process by the drone 300 according to the second embodiment.

[0123] First, the drone 300 moves to the bottom of the hoistway 20 and starts inspecting the elevator 600 by the drone 300 (S101), and then. In the drone 300, the inspection unit 302 starts inspecting from the top floor to the first basement floor (S102). When the inspection from the top floor to the first basement floor is completed (S103), the drone 300 drives the drive unit 303 by the control unit 311 and moves to an evacuation position outside the movement path of the car 50 (S104).

[0124] When the car 50 descends from the top floor to the top floor - 2 floors (S105), the drone 300 returns to the movement path of the car 50 (S106). Then, the drone 300 ascends by one floor (S107). Next, in the drone 300, the inspection unit 302 starts inspecting the top floor (S108). When the inspection of the top floor is completed (S109), the drone 300 returns to the bottom of the hoistway 20 in the reverse order and ends the inspection process (S110).

[0125] Next, the evacuation process in S104 of FIG. 14 will be described. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of the detailed procedure of the evacuation movement process of the drone 300 according to the second embodiment.

[0126] In the drone 300, the imaging unit 306 searches for the evacuation marker 23 on the counterweight 3 (S121). FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an installation example of the evacuation marker - 23 according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 16, in this embodiment, the evacuation marker 23 is attached on the counterweight 3 and in the vicinity of the counterweight 3. In this embodiment, the imaging unit 306 will search for the evacuation marker 23 shown in the example 2 of FIG. 16.

[0127] When the imaging unit 306 detects the evacuation marker 23 on the counterweight 3 (S122), the drone 300 starts to move toward the evacuation marker 23 on the counterweight 3 by controlling the drive unit 303 by the control unit 311 (S123). When the movement is completed (S124), the process returns to the read source.

[0128] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of the evacuation and return of the drone 300 in the second embodiment. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of the state where the drone 300 according to the second embodiment has evacuated.

[0129] FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example in which the drone 300 according to the second embodiment evacuates to an area outside the movement path of the car body 50 and returns to the movement path of the car body 50 after the car body 50 has passed.

[0130] By the evacuation process of FIG. 15, as shown on the left side of FIG. 17 and the left side of FIG. 19, the drone 300 will perform an evacuation movement according to the evacuation marker 23 of the counterweight 3 set in an area outside the movement path of the car body 50. Then, as shown in FIG. 18, the drone 300 hovers and waits on the path of the counterweight 3.

[0131] Next, the return process of the drone 300 in S106 of FIG. 14 will be described. FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing an example of the detailed procedure of the return process of the drone 300 according to the second embodiment.

[0132] In the drone 300, the imaging unit 306 searches for the inspection item markers 45 on the top floor - the first floor (S131). When the imaging unit 306 detects the inspection item markers 45 on the top floor - the first floor (S132), the drone 300 starts moving toward the inspection item markers 45 on the top floor - the first floor by controlling the driving unit 303 by the control unit 311 (S133). When the movement is completed (S134), the process returns to the reading source.

[0133] Through the return process shown in FIG. 19 like this, as shown on the right side of FIG. 17 and the right side of FIG. 19, the drone 300 will return to the movement path of the car 50 according to the inspection item markers 45 set on the movement path of the car 50.

[0134] As described above, in this embodiment, the inspection unit 302 of the drone 300 of the elevator inspection system 1 inspects from the lowest floor to the highest floor in the hoistway 20, and the control unit 311 is when the communication unit 312 receives a call to the landing or a call to the destination floor from the server 510 of the drone cloud 500, and based on the current position of the car 50, the current position of the drone 300, the floor where the landing call was made, the destination direction in the landing call, or the current position of the car 50, the current position of the drone 300, and the destination floor in the destination floor call, the drone 300 is moved to a retracted area outside the movement path of the car 50 in the hoistway 20. Specifically, the control unit 311 moves the drone 300 to a retracted area outside the movement path of the car 50 in the hoistway 20, such as above or near the counterweight 3. Therefore, according to this embodiment, since the drone 300 is moved to a retracted area outside the movement path of the car 50, more efficient inspection work can be performed using the drone 300 without stopping the operation of the elevator 600.

[0135] (Modification example) In the second embodiment, the retraction marker 23 was set above or near the counterweight 3, but the retraction marker 23 may be installed at any location as long as it is an area outside the movement path of the car 50.

[0136] FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an installation example of the evacuation marker 23 according to the modified example. As shown in this FIG. 21, the evacuation marker 23 can be installed on a rail bracket 47 provided in an area outside the movement path of the car 50. Thereby, it becomes possible to land and evacuate the drone 300 on the rail bracket 47 which is an area outside the movement path of the car 50.

[0137] According to such a modified example, the same operational effects as those of the second embodiment are achieved.

[0138] The control panel 100, the server 210 of the elevator hoistway 200, and the server 510 of the drone cloud 500 according to the above-described embodiment and modified example include a control device such as a CPU, a storage device such as a ROM and a RAM, an external storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disc Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), and a CD drive device, a display device such as a display device, and an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse, and have a hardware configuration using an ordinary computer.

[0139] The drone 300 according to the above-described embodiment and modified example has a hardware configuration including a control device such as a CPU, a storage device such as a ROM and a RAM, an external storage device such as an HDD, an SSD, and a CD drive device, a display device such as a display device, and an input device such as an operation button.

[0140] The elevator inspection program executed by the drone 300 according to the above-described embodiment and modified example is provided by being pre-installed in a ROM or the like.

[0141] The elevator inspection program executed by the drone 300 according to the above-described embodiments and modified examples may be provided by being recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) in an installable or executable file format.

[0142] Furthermore, the elevator inspection program executed by the drone 300 according to the above-described embodiments and modified examples may be configured to be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. Also, the elevator inspection program executed by the drone 300 according to the above-described embodiments and modified examples may be configured to be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

[0143] The elevator inspection program executed by the drone 300 according to the above-described embodiments and modified examples has a module configuration including the above-described respective parts (communication unit 312, inspection unit 302, control unit 311). As actual hardware, the CPU (processor) reads the elevator inspection program from the above-described ROM and executes it, whereby the above-described respective parts are loaded onto the main storage device, and the communication unit 312, the inspection unit 302, and the control unit 311 are generated on the main storage device.

[0144] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0145] 1… Elevator inspection system, 2… Hoist, 3… Counterweight, 4A, 4B… Control panel, 5… Rope, 7… Building, 20… Hoistway, 22… Charger, 23… Evacuation marker (evacuation information), 45… Inspection item marker (inspection item information), 47… Rail bracket, 50… Car, 100… Control panel (elevator control device), 101, 211, 311, 511… Control unit, 102, 212, 312, 512… Communication unit, 110, 220, 320, 520… Memory unit, 160… Control room, 200… Machine room, 210, 310… Server, 300… Drone (autonomous flying object), 301… Antenna, 302… Inspection unit, 303… Driving unit, 304… Battery, 305… Charging unit, 306… Imaging unit, 307… Sound collection unit, 308… Temperature detection unit, 500… Drone cloud, 600… Elevator.

Claims

1. An autonomous flying vehicle capable of inspecting an elevator, comprising: an imaging unit; a communication unit capable of wireless communication with an autonomous flying vehicle management server that manages the autonomous flying vehicle; an inspection unit that executes an inspection operation within a hoistway in which a car that can be boarded by a user in the elevator can move up and down; When the communication unit receives from the autonomous flying vehicle management server that there is a landing call, which is an operation to cause the car waiting for arrival of the car in the elevator at the landing to arrive at the landing in either the upward or downward direction of travel from the user at the landing, and the current position of the car, based on the current position of the car, the current position of the autonomous flying vehicle, the floor where the landing call was made, and the direction of travel in the landing call, the autonomous flying vehicle is retracted and moved to a floor where the car does not move. When the communication unit receives from the autonomous flying vehicle management server that there is a destination floor call, which is an operation to cause the user in the car to direct the car to a desired destination floor, and the current position of the car, based on the current position of the car, the current position of the autonomous flying vehicle, and the destination floor in the destination floor call, the autonomous flying vehicle is retracted and moved to a floor where the car does not move. A control unit; An autonomous flying vehicle comprising the above.

2. When the communication unit receives from the autonomous flying vehicle management server that the car that can be boarded by a user in the elevator is at the top floor, the inspection unit inspects from the bottom floor to one floor below the top floor within the hoistway in which the car of the elevator can move up and down. When the communication unit receives from the autonomous flying vehicle management server that there is a landing call, if the direction of travel in the landing call is downward, the control unit retracts and moves the autonomous flying vehicle to at least two floors below the floor where the landing call was made. The autonomous flying vehicle according to Claim 1.

3. When the communication unit receives from the autonomous flying vehicle management server that there is a destination floor call, if the destination floor is lower than the floor where the landing call was made, the control unit further retracts and moves the autonomous flying vehicle to at least one floor below the destination floor. The autonomous flying vehicle according to Claim 2.

4. When the communication unit receives from the autonomous flight vehicle management server that the car that can be boarded by the user in the elevator is at the top floor, the inspection unit inspects from the bottom floor to one floor below the top floor within the hoistway where the car of the elevator can move up and down. When the communication unit receives from the autonomous flight vehicle management server that there is a landing call, if the destination direction in the landing call is upward, the control unit moves the autonomous flight vehicle to a position at least one floor below the floor where the landing call is made for evacuation. The autonomous flight vehicle according to claim 1.

5. When the communication unit receives from the autonomous flight vehicle management server that there is a destination floor call, if the destination floor is above the floor where the landing call is made, the control unit does not move the autonomous flight vehicle for evacuation. The autonomous flight vehicle according to claim 4.

6. The inspection unit inspects from the bottom floor to the top floor within the hoistway. When the communication unit receives from the autonomous flight vehicle management server that there is a landing call or a destination floor call, based on the current position of the car, the current position of the autonomous flight vehicle, the floor where the landing call is made, the destination direction in the landing call, or the current position of the car, the current position of the autonomous flight vehicle, and the destination floor in the destination floor call, the control unit moves the autonomous flight vehicle to an area outside the movement path of the car within the hoistway for evacuation. The autonomous flight vehicle according to claim 1.

7. The inspection unit searches for inspection item information indicating inspection items provided at a plurality of locations within the hoistway by the imaging unit, and executes an inspection operation based on the searched inspection item information. The autonomous flight vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The control unit searches for evacuation information indicating an evacuation location provided at a plurality of locations within the hoistway by the imaging unit, and moves the autonomous flight vehicle for evacuation based on the searched evacuation information. The autonomous flight vehicle according to claim 7.

9. An elevator inspection system comprising: an elevator control device for controlling an elevator; an elevator management server connected to the elevator control device via a network and managing the elevator; an autonomous flying vehicle capable of inspecting the elevator; and an autonomous flying vehicle management server connected to the elevator management server via a network and capable of wireless communication with the autonomous flying vehicle and managing the autonomous flying vehicle. The elevator control device: When a landing call, which is an operation performed by a user to cause the car, which can be boarded by the user in the elevator, to arrive at the landing, to move in either the up or down direction, is made on a first operation panel provided at the landing where the user waits for the arrival of the car, the landing call is received, and the received landing call and the current position of the car are transmitted to the elevator management server. When a destination floor call, which is an operation performed by the user to cause the car to move to a desired destination floor, is made on a second operation panel provided in the car, the destination floor call is received, and the received destination floor call and the current position of the car are transmitted to the elevator management server. It includes a first communication unit. The elevator management server: When receiving the landing call and the current position of the car from the elevator control device, the received landing call and the current position of the car are transmitted to the autonomous flying vehicle management server. When receiving the destination floor call and the current position of the car from the elevator control device, it includes a second communication unit that transmits the received destination floor call and the current position of the car to the autonomous flying vehicle management server. The autonomous flying vehicle management server: When receiving the landing call and the current position of the car from the elevator management server, it transmits the fact that there is a landing call and the current position of the car to the autonomous flying vehicle. When receiving the destination floor call and the current position of the car from the elevator management server, it includes a third communication unit that transmits the fact that there is a destination floor call and the current position of the car to the autonomous flying vehicle. The autonomous flying vehicle: An imaging unit; A fourth communication unit capable of wireless communication with an autonomous flying vehicle management server that manages the autonomous flying vehicle; An inspection unit that executes an inspection operation within a hoistway where a car, which can be boarded by a user in the elevator, can move up and down. When the fourth communication unit receives from the autonomous flight vehicle management server that there has been a call for the landing area and the current position of the car, based on the current position of the car, the current position of the autonomous flight vehicle, the floor where the call for the landing area was made, and the direction of the destination in the call for the landing area, the autonomous flight vehicle is moved to a floor where the car does not move for evacuation, and when the fourth communication unit receives from the autonomous flight vehicle management server that there has been a call for the destination floor and the current position of the car, based on the current position of the car, the current position of the autonomous flight vehicle, and the destination floor in the call for the destination floor, the autonomous flight vehicle is moved to a floor where the car does not move for evacuation, a control unit An elevator inspection system comprising the same.

10. When the inspection unit receives from the autonomous flight vehicle management server that the car that can be boarded by a user in the elevator is at the top floor, the inspection unit inspects from the bottom floor to one floor below the top floor in the hoistway where the car of the elevator can move up and down. When the control unit receives from the autonomous flight vehicle management server that there has been a call for the landing area and the direction of the destination in the call for the landing area is downward, the control unit moves the autonomous flight vehicle to a floor at least two floors below the floor where the call for the landing area was made for evacuation. The elevator inspection system according to claim 9.

11. When the control unit receives from the autonomous flight vehicle management server that there has been a downward call for the landing area and then receives that there has been a call for the destination floor, and the destination floor is below the floor where the call for the landing area was made, the control unit moves the autonomous flight vehicle to a floor at least one floor below the destination floor for evacuation. The elevator inspection system according to claim 10.

12. When the inspection unit receives from the autonomous flight vehicle management server that the car that can be boarded by a user in the elevator is at the top floor, the inspection unit inspects from the bottom floor to one floor below the top floor in the hoistway where the car of the elevator can move up and down. When the fourth communication unit receives from the autonomous flight vehicle management server that there is a boarding call, if the destination direction in the boarding call is upward, the control unit causes the autonomous flight vehicle to move to a floor at least one floor below the floor where the boarding call was made for evacuation. The elevator inspection system according to claim 9.

13. After the fourth communication unit receives from the autonomous flight vehicle management server that there is an upward boarding call, when the fourth communication unit receives that there is a destination floor call, if the destination floor is above the floor where the boarding call was made, the control unit does not cause the autonomous flight vehicle to move for evacuation. The elevator inspection system according to claim 12.

14. The inspection unit inspects from the lowest floor to the highest floor in the hoistway. When the fourth communication unit receives from the autonomous flight vehicle management server that there is a boarding call or a destination floor call, based on the current position of the car, the current position of the autonomous flight vehicle, the floor where the boarding call was made, the destination direction in the boarding call, or based on the current position of the car, the current position of the autonomous flight vehicle, and the destination floor in the destination floor call, the control unit causes the autonomous flight vehicle to move for evacuation to an area outside the movement path of the car in the hoistway. The elevator inspection system according to claim 9.

15. In the hoistway, inspection item information indicating inspection items is provided at a plurality of locations. The inspection unit searches for the inspection item information by the imaging unit and executes an inspection operation based on the searched inspection item information. The elevator inspection system according to any one of claims 9 to 14.

16. In the hoistway, evacuation information indicating an evacuation location is provided. The control unit searches for the evacuation information by the imaging unit and causes the autonomous flight vehicle to move for evacuation based on the searched evacuation information. The elevator inspection system according to claim 15.

17. An elevator inspection method executed in an elevator inspection system including an elevator control device that controls an elevator, an elevator management server that is connected to the elevator control device via a network and manages the elevator, an autonomous flying vehicle capable of inspecting the elevator, and an autonomous flying vehicle management server that is connected to the elevator management server via a network, can communicate wirelessly with the autonomous flying vehicle, and manages the autonomous flying vehicle, When a landing call, which is an operation performed by the elevator control device to make the car, which can be boarded by a user in the elevator, arrive at the landing waiting for the arrival of the car, is made on a first operation panel provided at the landing, the elevator control device receives the landing call and transmits the received landing call and the current position of the car to the elevator management server. When a destination floor call, which is an operation performed by the user to make the car go to a desired destination floor, is made on a second operation panel provided in the car, the elevator control device receives the destination floor call and transmits the received destination floor call and the current position of the car to the elevator management server. When the elevator management server receives the landing call and the current position of the car from the elevator control device, it transmits the received landing call and the current position of the car to the autonomous flying vehicle management server. When the elevator management server receives the destination floor call and the current position of the car from the elevator control device, it transmits the received destination floor call and the current position of the car to the autonomous flying vehicle management server. When the autonomous flying vehicle management server receives the landing call and the current position of the car from the elevator management server, it transmits the fact that the received landing call has been made and the current position of the car to the autonomous flying vehicle. When the autonomous flying vehicle management server receives the destination floor call and the current position of the car from the elevator management server, it transmits the fact that the received destination floor call has been made and the current position of the car to the autonomous flying vehicle. The autonomous flying vehicle performs wireless communication with the autonomous flying vehicle management server. The autonomous flying vehicle executes an inspection operation in a hoistway where the car, which can be boarded by a user in the elevator, can move up and down. When the autonomous flying object receives from the autonomous flying object management server that there has been a call for the boarding area and the current position of the car, based on the current position of the car, the current position of the autonomous flying object, the floor where the call for the boarding area was made, and the direction of travel in the call for the boarding area, the autonomous flying object is retractedly moved to a floor where the car does not move. When the fourth communication unit receives from the autonomous flying object management server that there has been a call for the destination floor and the current position of the car, based on the current position of the car, the current position of the autonomous flying object, and the destination floor in the call for the destination floor, the autonomous flying object is retractedly moved to a floor where the car does not move. An elevator inspection method including the above.

18. A program for causing a computer of an autonomous flying object capable of inspecting an elevator to execute, wherein the autonomous flying object includes an imaging unit, performing wireless communication with an autonomous flying object management server that manages the autonomous flying object, performing an inspection operation within a hoistway where a car that can be boarded by a user in the elevator can move up and down, When receiving from the autonomous flying object management server that there has been a call for the boarding area, which is an operation to cause the car waiting for arrival of the car in the elevator at the boarding area to arrive at the boarding area in either the up or down direction of travel from the user, and the current position of the car, based on the current position of the car, the current position of the autonomous flying object, the floor where the call for the boarding area was made, and the direction of travel in the call for the boarding area, the autonomous flying object is retractedly moved to a floor where the car does not move. When receiving from the autonomous flying object management server that there has been a call for the destination floor, which is an operation to cause the user in the car to direct the car to a desired destination floor, and the current position of the car, based on the current position of the car, the current position of the autonomous flying object, and the destination floor in the call for the destination floor, the autonomous flying object is retractedly moved to a floor where the car does not move. A program for causing the computer to execute the above.

Images