Group management apparatus

Abstract

To provide a group management device capable of properly allocating a car by predicting the occurrence of leaving behind.SOLUTION: A group management device according to an embodiment includes a control unit configured to allocate, among a plurality of elevator cars, an elevator car to respond to a hall call for each of different floors, and an analysis unit configured to calculate a probability that a passenger is left behind at a target floor at which the hall call has been made among the different floors by using a learning model constructed by machine learning, wherein the analysis unit is configured to estimate the number of waiting people at the target floor when there is a first hall call, estimate the number of passengers in a first elevator car allocated to respond to the first hall call, and calculate the probability from the number of waiting people and the number of passengers. When the probability is a predetermined value or more and there is a second car passing in the direction designated by the first landing call while the first car is opening the door at the target floor among the plurality of cars, the control part stops the second car scheduled to pass at the target floor.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a group management device. [Background technology]

[0002] In an elevator system, when responding to a hall call at a crowded floor, there may be cases where not all passengers can board the elevator that responded, resulting in some passengers remaining behind.

[0003] In the technology of Patent Document 1, when there is a possibility of a long waiting time at a platform where a full passenger has passed, the car with the shortest response time that allows all passengers at the platform to board, or the car with the fewest passengers, is made to respond to the platform.

[0004] In the technology of Patent Document 2, when there is a possibility that passengers will be left behind at a designated stop, an evaluation is made using a value obtained by multiplying the unresponsive time by the number of people waiting, and elevators with short response times are allocated in the number appropriate to the number of people waiting. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-208708 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-081587 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, the technology of Patent Document 1 aims to shorten waiting times at a platform where a full-passage has occurred, and therefore does not address the issue of passengers being left behind after a response has been made.

[0007] Furthermore, the technology of Patent Document 2 acquires the number of people waiting at the platform and the number of people in the car, and controls the operation of the car based on these values. For example, an imaging device is installed at the platform, a gate is installed on the route to the platform, or equipment capable of communicating with users' terminals is installed, and the number of people waiting at the platform, etc. is acquired based on information obtained from these pieces of equipment. Therefore, the technology of Patent Document 2 requires the installation of additional equipment in the elevator system or at the location where the elevator is installed.

[0008] The problem to be solved by this embodiment is to provide a group control device that can predict the occurrence of left-behind passengers and appropriately allocate cars. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The group management device of one embodiment is a group management device that controls the operation of multiple elevator cars between different floors, and is equipped with: a control unit that assigns a car from the multiple cars to respond to a hall call for each of the different floors; and an analysis unit that uses a learning model constructed by machine learning to calculate the probability of passengers being left behind at a target floor from among the different floors where the hall call was made. When a first hall call is made, the analysis unit estimates the number of people waiting at the target floor, estimates the number of passengers in a first car assigned to respond to the first hall call, and calculates the probability from the number of people waiting and the number of passengers. When the probability is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, and when a second car from the multiple cars is passing in the direction specified by the first hall call while the doors of the first car are open at the target floor, the control unit stops the second car that was scheduled to pass at the target floor. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of an elevator system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the elevator system according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the elevator system according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing another example of the operation of the elevator system according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for car allocation processing by the group control device according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for car allocation processing by a group control device according to a modified example of the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] (Example of elevator system configuration) 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of an elevator system 10 according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the elevator system 10 according to the embodiment includes a group control device 30, an elevator control device 40, a car 50, a hall 60, and a hoistway 70.

[0012] The elevator shaft 70 is provided across multiple floors inside a building or the like where the elevator system 10 is installed. The multiple cars 50 are configured to allow passengers to board and travel between different floors by ascending and descending within the elevator shaft 70. On each floor of the building or the like, a landing 60 is provided where passengers board and alight from the cars 50.

[0013] A rope 71, a counterweight 72, and a hoist 73 are provided in the hoistway 70.

[0014] Each car 50 is connected to a counterweight 72 via a rope 71. The rope 71 is stretched across a hoist 73, and the rope 71 is sent out by driving the hoist 73, causing the car 50 to ascend and descend within the hoistway 70 while balancing with the counterweight 72.

[0015] Each car 50 is provided with a destination floor call device 51, a car door 52, and a load sensor 54.

[0016] The destination floor call device 51 is provided inside the elevator car 50 and is configured to have buttons and the like that indicate destination floors. When a user inside the elevator car 50 presses a predetermined destination floor button, the destination floor call is accepted by the destination floor call device 51 and is transmitted to and registered in the group control device 30 via the elevator control device 40 described below. This allows the user to direct the elevator car 50 to the desired destination floor.

[0017] The car door 52 is provided at the entrance of the car 50. The car door 52 is in a closed state while the car 50 is moving in the elevator shaft 70, and is in an open state when the car 50 arrives at the landing 60 on a predetermined floor, allowing passengers to get on and off the car 50.

[0018] The load sensor 54 is provided, for example, on the underside of the outside of the car 50, and detects the weight of the entire car 50. Since the weight of the car 50 itself is known, the total weight of passengers and others inside the car 50 can be detected by detecting the weight of the entire car 50. This makes it possible to estimate the number of passengers inside the car 50.

[0019] A landing call device 61 and a landing door 62 are provided at each landing 60 on each floor.

[0020] The hall call device 61 is configured with up and down buttons, etc. When a user at the hall 60 presses either the up or down button, the hall call device 61 accepts the hall call, which is then transmitted to and registered in the group control device 30 via the elevator control device 40 described below. This allows the user to call the hall 60 for a car 50 heading to the desired destination floor.

[0021] The landing door 62 is provided at the entrance to the car 50 within the landing 60. The landing door 62 is closed until the car 50 arrives at the landing 60, and when the car 50 arrives, the landing door 62 opens in conjunction with the car door 52 of the car 50. This allows passengers to get on and off the car 50.

[0022] The group control device 30 and the elevator control device 40 are each configured as a computer equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. The group control device 30 and the elevator control device 40 are connected by wire or wirelessly so that they can exchange information with each other.

[0023] An elevator control device 40 is provided for each individual car 50 and controls the corresponding car 50, respectively.

[0024] The group control device 30 controls the operation of the corresponding multiple cars 50 via the elevator control device 40. More specifically, the group control device 30 registers destination floor calls from the destination floor call device 51 and hall calls from the hall call device 61, and causes one of the multiple cars 50 to respond to these call registrations.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the elevator system 10 according to the embodiment.

[0026] 2, the elevator car 50 includes a destination floor call device 51, a car door 52, and a load sensor 54. The destination floor call device 51, the car door 52, and the load sensor 54 exchange various information with the elevator control device 40.

[0027] For example, when the destination floor call device 51 receives a destination floor call from a user, it transmits the destination floor call to the elevator control device 40. The car door 52 opens and closes in response to a control signal or the like received from the elevator control device 40. The load sensor 54 detects the weight of the car 50 and transmits the weight to the elevator control device 40.

[0028] In addition, a hoist 73 is provided in the hoistway 70, and transmits and receives various information to and from the elevator control device 40. Specifically, the hoist 73 is driven in response to control signals and the like received from the elevator control device 40, and raises and lowers the car 50 within the hoistway 70.

[0029] The landing 60 is also provided with a landing call device 61 and a landing door 62. The landing call device 61 and the landing door 62 exchange various information with the group control device 30.

[0030] For example, when the hall call device 61 receives a hall call from a user, it transmits the hall call to the group control device 30. In addition, the hall door 62 performs an opening and closing operation in response to a control signal received from the group control device 30.

[0031] The elevator control device 40 includes, as functional units, a communication unit 41, a control unit 42, and a storage unit 45. These functional units are realized, for example, by the above-mentioned CPU included in the elevator control device 40 expanding a control program stored in a ROM or the like into a RAM and executing the program.

[0032] The communication unit 41 communicates with external devices of the elevator control device 40.

[0033] For example, the communication unit 41 exchanges various information with the destination floor call device 51, car door 52, and load sensor 54 provided in the car 50, and the hoist 73 provided in the elevator shaft 70, to receive status information of each of these parts and also transmits control signals and the like that control each of these parts. The communication unit 41 also receives a destination floor call from the destination floor call device 51 in the car 50.

[0034] Furthermore, for example, the communication unit 41 exchanges various information with the group control device 30, and transfers status information of each of the above-mentioned units and destination floor calls from the destination floor call device 51. Furthermore, the communication unit 41 receives instructions from the group control device 30 to each of the above-mentioned units.

[0035] Based on instructions from the group management device 30, the control unit 42 generates control signals to control the destination floor call device 51, car door 52, and load sensor 54 installed in the car 50, as well as the hoist 73 installed in the elevator shaft 70, and controls each of these parts via the communication unit 41.

[0036] The storage unit 45 stores control programs and control parameters that realize the functions of the elevator control device 40.

[0037] The group management device 30 includes, as functional units, a communication unit 31, a control unit 32, an analysis unit 33, a call management unit 34, and a storage unit 35. These functional units are realized, for example, by the above-mentioned CPU included in the group management device 30 expanding a control program stored in a ROM or the like into a RAM and executing it.

[0038] The communication unit 31 communicates with devices external to the group management device 30.

[0039] For example, the communication unit 31 communicates with the elevator control device 40, and acquires, via the elevator control device 40, status information of each part of the car 50, a destination floor call from the destination floor call device 51, and detection results from the load sensor 54. In addition, the communication unit 31 transmits commands to the elevator control device 40 to control the car 50.

[0040] Furthermore, for example, the communication unit 31 communicates with a platform call device 61 and a platform door 62 installed at the platform 60, and acquires their status information and platform calls from the platform call device 61. The communication unit 31 also transmits control signals for controlling each part of the platform 60.

[0041] The control unit 32 generates control signals to control the hall call device 61 and the hall door 62 provided at the hall 60, and controls these units via the communication unit 31. The control unit 32 also generates instructions to cause the car 50 to respond to a destination floor call obtained from the destination floor call device 51 or a hall call obtained from the hall call device 61, and transmits the generated instructions to the elevator control device 40 via the communication unit 31.

[0042] When a platform call is made from a platform 60 on a predetermined floor, the analysis unit 33 uses a learning model 37 constructed by machine learning to calculate the probability that a passenger will be left behind at the platform 60 when a predetermined car 50 is made to respond to the platform call. The occurrence of passengers being left behind at the platform 60 means, for example, that a passenger is unable to fit into the car 50 that responded to the platform call.

[0043] The learning model 37 is obtained by learning data such as the operating conditions of the multiple cars 50 in the elevator system 1 through machine learning, and is stored in the memory unit 35 of the group control device 30, for example.

[0044] Data that is the subject of machine learning is, for example, data that indicates the operation status of multiple cars 50 by time period, day of the week, season, or weather. The operation status of multiple cars 50 includes the arrangement of multiple cars 50 at any given time, the allocation status to boarding calls or destination floor calls, whether or not there are any passengers left behind at each boarding stop 60, and the number of passengers left behind.

[0045] The presence or absence of passengers left behind at each platform 60 can be estimated, for example, based on whether or not a call is made for a car 50 traveling in the same direction within a predetermined time after a platform call at that platform 60 is answered. In addition, when there are passengers waiting to board at the platform 60, the presence or absence of passengers left behind and the unanswered time when passengers were left behind can be estimated from the time it takes for a specific car 50 to respond, etc. The number of passengers left behind when passengers are left behind can be estimated, for example, based on the number of passengers who board a car 50 traveling in the same direction after the occurrence of the left-behind occurrence.

[0046] The number of passengers waiting to board, the flow of people, etc. may differ depending on the time of day, the day of the week, the season, or the weather. In addition, passengers may be dressed thickly or thinly depending on the season, and many passengers may carry rain gear depending on the weather, and the number of passengers that can board the elevator 50 may also differ depending on these conditions.

[0047] The above-described machine learning is performed by providing the data to, for example, a computer (not shown) equipped with a machine learning function. The machine learning computer constructs a learning model 37 capable of calculating the probability of leftover occurrence based on the provided data. The learning model 37 constructed by the machine learning computer is stored in the memory unit 35 or the like so that it can be used by the analysis unit 33 of the group management device 30.

[0048] However, the group management device 30 may also have a machine learning function, in which case the above data may be stored in the group management device 30, and the group management device 30 itself may perform machine learning to construct the above learning model 37.

[0049] When a platform call occurs at a specific platform 60, the analysis unit 33 applies the operating status of the multiple elevators 50 at that time, the time of day when the platform call occurred, the day of the week, the season, the weather, etc. to the learning model 37 to estimate the number of people waiting at the platform 60 where the platform call occurred.

[0050] The analysis unit 33 also estimates the number of passengers in the car 50 assigned to respond to the platform call. The number of passengers can be estimated, for example, from the detection results of a load sensor 54 provided in the car 50. Alternatively, the analysis unit 33 may estimate the number of passengers in the car 50 by applying various situations at that time to the learning model 37, just as in the case of estimating the number of people waiting at the platform 60.

[0051] Furthermore, the analysis unit 33 calculates the probability that passengers will be left behind at the platform 60 based on the estimated number of people waiting at the platform 60 where the platform call was made and the number of passengers in the car 50 assigned to the platform call. Note that the greater the number of people waiting at the platform 60 and the greater the number of passengers in the car 50, the higher the probability that passengers will be left behind at the platform 60.

[0052] If the probability of passengers being left behind is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the control unit 32 described above will arrange for other cars 50 to head to the platform 60 in addition to the car 50 assigned to respond to the platform call, for example.

[0053] The call management unit 34 stores the destination floor call acquired from the destination floor call device 51 in the memory unit 35 and performs destination floor call registration. The call management unit 34 also stores the hall call acquired from the hall call device 61 in the memory unit 35 and performs hall call registration.

[0054] The memory unit 35 stores control programs, control parameters, and the like that realize the functions of the group control device 30. The memory unit 35 also stores a call registration database 36 and the above-mentioned learning model 37. The call registration database 36 stores call registrations such as destination floor call registrations and hall call registrations that are registered by the call management unit 34.

[0055] (Example of elevator system operation) Next, an operation example of the elevator system 10 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the operation of the elevator system 10 according to the embodiment. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing another example of the operation of the elevator system 10 according to the embodiment.

[0056] In the example shown in Fig. 3, it is assumed that a hall call for going to a lower floor is generated at a hall 60 on a predetermined floor. Furthermore, when the hall call is generated, of the multiple cars 50, cars 50 No. 1 to No. 3 are located on floors higher than the floor where the hall call was generated, and it is possible to have any of these cars 50 respond to the hall call. It is assumed that the group control device 30 has decided to have, for example, car No. 1 50 respond to the hall call among cars 50 No. 1 to No. 3.

[0057] The first car 50 descends from an upper floor and opens its doors when it arrives at the platform 60 where the platform call was made at time t1. This allows passengers who have been waiting at that platform 60 for a car 50 heading to a lower floor to board the first car 50. The first car 50 then closes its doors at time t3 and departs from the platform 60 on that floor for the lower floor.

[0058] The elevators 50 of the second and third elevators that were not assigned to the above-mentioned hall calls pass through the hall 60 where the hall call occurred at time t2 and time t4, respectively. Time t2 is the time between time t1, which is the door opening time of the elevator 50 of the first elevator, and time t3, which is the door closing time of the elevator 50 of the first elevator. Time t4 is the time after time t3, which is the door closing time of the elevator 50 of the first elevator.

[0059] Here, if there are a large number of people waiting at platform 60, or if there are a large number of people already aboard car No. 1 50, even if car No. 1 50 responds to the platform call, not all of the passengers at platform 60 may be able to board car No. 1 50, and passengers may be left behind at platform 60.

[0060] Even in this case, the next platform call cannot be accepted while the doors of the No. 1 car 50 are open. Therefore, the No. 2 car 50 passes through the platform 60 without stopping there. Passengers left behind at the platform 60 can finally make the next platform call after seeing the No. 2 car 50 pass by and the No. 1 car 50 depart. As a result, the No. 3 car 50, which follows the No. 1 and No. 2 cars, stops at the platform 60, for example, to accommodate the left-behind passengers.

[0061] To avoid such a situation, in the group control device 30 of the embodiment, the analysis unit 33 calculates the probability that passengers will be left behind at the platform 60 of the floor where the platform call was made. That is, for example, at the timing when the platform call is made, the analysis unit 33 estimates the number of people waiting at that platform 60. Furthermore, when the control unit 32 determines, for example, the allocation of a car 50 that will respond to the platform call, the analysis unit 33 estimates the number of passengers in the allocated car 50.

[0062] This allows the analysis unit 33 to complete the calculation of the probability of passengers being left behind at a timing before or after the first car 50 arrives at the platform 60. In this case, it is more preferable that the calculation of the probability of passengers being left behind be completed before the first car 50 arrives at the platform 60.

[0063] If the probability of passengers being left behind calculated by the analysis unit 33 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the control unit 32 begins to consider other cars 50 that can respond to the platform 60 after the assigned No. 1 car 50.

[0064] More specifically, the control unit 32 checks whether there is another car 50 that can respond to the landing 60, for example, a car 50 that passes through the landing 60 in the direction specified by the above-mentioned landing call while the door of the first car 50 is open, that is, between times t1 and t3. In the example of Fig. 3, this corresponds to the second car 50 that passes through the landing 60 from an upper floor to a lower floor, where the landing call was made.

[0065] Furthermore, the control unit 32 calculates the amount of time that a passenger will not be answered if a passenger is actually left behind. Here, the amount of time that a passenger will not be answered is, for example, the time from when the first car 50 that responded to the above-mentioned platform call departs from the platform 60 until when a car 50 that can respond to a further platform call from the left-behind passenger arrives at the platform 60.

[0066] In the example of Figure 3, as described above, after the departure of the No. 1 car 50, the car 50 that can respond to a new hall call is the No. 3 car 50. Therefore, the unanswered time for the left-behind passenger is from time t3, which is the departure time of the No. 1 car 50, to time t4, when the No. 3 car 50 arrives at the hall 60.

[0067] When the non-response time indicated by the time t3 to t4 is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, the control unit 32 determines to stop the second car 50, which is scheduled to pass through the platform 60, at the platform 60 while the door of the first car 50 is open, and to allow the left-behind passengers to respond. An example of this case is shown in FIG. 4.

[0068] As shown in Figure 4, after the arrival of the car 50 of the first car at time t1, the car 50 of the second car arrives at the landing 60 at time t2 and opens its doors. Thereafter, at time t3, the car 50 of the first car closes its doors and departs from the landing 60, and furthermore, at time t3' after time t3, the car 50 of the second car closes its doors and departs from the landing 60. If the probability of further passengers being left behind is not high, the car 50 of the third car will pass through the landing 60 at time t4 as scheduled.

[0069] As described above, when a platform call occurs at a specified floor and the probability of passengers being left behind at that platform 60 is equal to or greater than a specified value, and there is another car 50 passing through that platform 60 while the doors of the car 50 assigned to that platform call are opening, and further, when the unanswered time after the departure of the originally assigned car 50 is equal to or greater than a specified time, the group control device 30 of the embodiment assigns the car 50 that was scheduled to pass while the doors of the assigned car 50 were opening to respond to the left-behind passengers.

[0070] (Example of elevator system processing) Next, an example of processing by the group control device 30 of the embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a flow diagram showing an example of the procedure of processing for allocating cars 50 by the group control device 30 according to the embodiment.

[0071] 5, the group control device 30 monitors whether a hall call is made at any of the halls 60 (step S101). The group control device 30 continues monitoring while no hall call is made (step S101: No).

[0072] When a platform call is made at any of the platforms 60 (step S101: Yes), the analysis unit 33 estimates the number of people waiting at the platform 60 on the floor where the platform call was registered, for example, using the learning model 37 stored in the memory unit 35 (step S102).

[0073] Furthermore, when the control unit 32 assigns the car 50 to respond to the hall call, the analysis unit 33 estimates the number of passengers in the car 50 responding to the hall call (step S103). The number of passengers may be estimated using, for example, the learning model 37 as described above, or may be estimated based on the detection result of the load sensor 54 provided in the car 50 responding to the hall call.

[0074] The analysis unit 33 calculates the probability of passengers being left behind at the platform 60 based on the number of people waiting at the platform 60 and the number of passengers in the car 50 estimated in the processes of steps S102 and S103 (step S104). The control unit 32 determines whether the calculated probability of passengers being left behind is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (step S105).

[0075] If the probability of passengers being left behind is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (step S105: Yes), the control unit 32 checks the operation status of the multiple cars 50 (step S106). Based on the operation status of the multiple cars 50, the control unit 32 determines whether or not there is another car 50 scheduled to pass through the platform 60 in the same direction as the car 50 that has responded to the platform call while the door of the car 50 is opening (step S107).

[0076] If there is a car 50 scheduled to pass through the platform 60 (step S107: Yes), the control unit 32 determines whether the time period during which the car 50 that responded to the platform call has not responded to the remaining passengers will be longer than a predetermined time period after the doors of the car 50 that responded to the platform call have closed (step S108).

[0077] If the no-response time is equal to or longer than the predetermined time (step S108: Yes), the control unit 32 calculates the number of passengers that can board the car 50 identified in the processing of step S107 (step S109). More specifically, the control unit 32 estimates the current number of passengers from the detection result of the load sensor 54 provided in the car 50, for example, and can further calculate the number of passengers that can board from the current number of passengers.

[0078] The control unit 32 stops the number of cars 50 that can accommodate all the remaining passengers at the stop 60 where the stop call was made, based on the number of passengers that can be accommodated in the cars 50 identified in the processing of step S107 (step S110). Note that if the number of cars 50 identified in the processing of step S107 is less than the number that can accommodate all the remaining passengers, it may be decided to stop all of these cars 50.

[0079] If the probability of passengers being left behind is less than a predetermined value (step S105: No), if there is no elevator 50 scheduled to pass through the platform 60 while the door of the elevator 50 that responded to the platform call is opening (step S107: No), or if the unanswered time after the door of the elevator 50 that responded to the platform call closes is less than a predetermined time (step S108: No), the process of stopping any more elevators 50 in addition to the elevators 50 initially assigned is not performed.

[0080] This completes the car 50 allocation process by the group control device 30 of the embodiment.

[0081] (Overview) A group control device is known that controls the operation of multiple elevator cars. The group control device controls the operation of multiple elevator cars, for example, to operate at equal intervals in order to equalize waiting times at each floor. In this case, if passengers are left behind when a hall call is answered, the left-behind passengers must wait for the car that answered the hall call to depart before making a new hall call, which results in a long unanswered time for these passengers.

[0082] For this reason, the group control device prevents passengers from being left behind by, for example, allowing cars with more than a specified number of passengers to pass through without responding to calls at the platform, or by assigning cars with fewer than a specified number of passengers.

[0083] However, it is difficult to completely eliminate the occurrence of backlogs with the above-mentioned measures, and it is also difficult to shorten the unanswered time when backlogs occur.

[0084] According to the group control device 30 of the embodiment, the learning model 37 constructed by machine learning is used to calculate the probability that passengers will be left behind at a target floor among different floors where a hall call has been made. In this way, by using the learning model 37 based on machine learning, it is possible to predict the occurrence of passengers being left behind and appropriately allocate elevator cars 50.

[0085] According to the group control device 30 of the embodiment, when the probability of passengers being left behind is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and when one of the multiple cars 50 that is assigned to respond to a platform call is at the target floor where the platform call has been made and the door of that car 50 is open, and there is another car 50 passing in the direction specified by the platform call, the other car 50 that was scheduled to pass through is stopped at the target floor.

[0086] In this way, by stopping a car 50 that passes by without being able to make an additional call to the platform 60 while the doors of the originally assigned car 50 are open at that platform 60, it is possible to prevent the time when the remaining passengers are not responded to from becoming too long.

[0087] According to the group control device 30 of the embodiment, if the probability of passengers being left behind is equal to or greater than a predetermined value and if the non-response time after the doors of the assigned car 50 closes is equal to or greater than a predetermined time, another car 50 is stopped at the target floor. In this way, whether or not to stop another car 50 is determined based on the non-response time being equal to or greater than a predetermined time as one of the conditions, so that an additional response can be avoided inadvertently and the additional response can be prevented from going to waste.

[0088] According to the group control device 30 of the embodiment, the probability of passengers being left behind is calculated by applying the learning model 37 to at least one of the estimation of the number of people waiting at the target floor where the hall call was made and the estimation of the number of passengers in the car 50 at the time of the response. This makes it possible to calculate the probability of passengers being left behind without providing additional equipment to the elevator system 10, for example.

[0089] According to the group management device 30 of the embodiment, the number of people waiting at a target floor is estimated using the learning model 37. This makes it possible to obtain an estimate of the number of people waiting at each landing 60 without providing additional equipment such as an imaging device at each landing 60.

[0090] According to the group control device 30 of the embodiment, the number of passengers in the car 50 at the time of response is estimated from the detection result of the load sensor 54 provided in the car 50. The elevator system 10 is usually originally equipped with a load sensor 54 for detecting whether the car 50 is overloaded. By using the detection result of the load sensor 54, which is an existing facility, it is possible to obtain a more accurate number of passengers in the car 50. Since it is not necessary to estimate the number of passengers in the car 50, it is also possible to reduce the load of building the learning model 37 by machine learning.

[0091] In the above-described embodiment, when the additional elevator 50 responds to the left-behind passengers, an announcement encouraging them to board the additional elevator 50 may be made using a speaker (not shown) installed at the platform 60 or the elevator 50, or a display board or the like installed at the platform 60.

[0092] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the learning model 37 may be updateable as needed. Specifically, for example, if an additional car 50 is sent to respond to the left-behind passengers but no passengers board, the learning model 37 can be updated to further reflect the situation at the time, such as the number of passengers in the initially assigned car 50 after the response or the available space in the car 50, so as to enable more accurate predictions.

[0093] (Variation) Next, a processing example by a group control device according to a modified example of the embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 6. The group control device according to the modified example has a different condition for determining whether to stop an additional car 50 from that of the group control device 30 according to the above-described embodiment.

[0094] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for allocating the cars 50 by the group control device according to the modified example of the embodiment.

[0095] 6, in the group control device of the modified example, the processing of steps S201 to S204 is performed in the same manner as in steps S101 to S104 described above. That is, when there is a hall call at a predetermined floor (step S201: Yes), the group control device of the modified example also calculates the probability that a passenger will be left behind at that hall 60 (steps S202 to S204).

[0096] The control unit assigns a car 50 to respond to the hall call, and after the assigned car 50 responds, the door closes (step S205). The control unit determines whether the probability of passengers being left behind calculated in the processing of step S204 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (step S206).

[0097] If the probability of passengers being left behind is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (step S206: Yes), the control unit determines whether the number of passengers in the car 50 after the response was equal to or greater than a predetermined number when the car departs from the platform 60 (step S207). The number of passengers in the car 50 after the response can be estimated from the detection result of the load sensor 54 provided in the car 50, for example.

[0098] If the number of passengers in the car 50 after the response is equal to or greater than the predetermined number (step S207: Yes), the possibility that passengers are left behind increases further.

[0099] The control unit further determines whether or not there is another platform call from the platform 60 within a predetermined time after the answered car 50 departs from the platform 60, heading in the same direction as the car 50 (step S208). If there is an additional platform call within the predetermined time (step S208: Yes), it is highly likely that the platform call is from a passenger who was left behind.

[0100] When allocating the elevator car 50 to respond to the additional hall call, the control unit allocates the elevator car 50 with priority given to shortening the response time (step S209).

[0101] Normally, when the control unit allocates cars 50, it selects a specific car 50 by equally considering several conditions, such as the load of each car 50, the time it takes for each car 50 to respond, and the number of hall calls at other floors. In other words, the weighting of these conditions is equalized, and cars 50 that satisfy these conditions to the same extent are allocated. This makes it possible to improve the overall operating efficiency of the elevator system.

[0102] However, when all of steps S206 to S208 are met and an additional car 50 is allocated, the car 50 is selected by, for example, weighting the time required for each car 50 to respond more heavily than other conditions among the above conditions. This makes it possible to minimize the non-response time in a situation where it is predicted that there is a high probability of passengers being left behind.

[0103] Note that the control unit may change the allocation of an already determined car 50, for example, to respond to a hall call for another floor, in order to allocate an additional car 50 while prioritizing shortening the response time. Furthermore, the control unit may not allocate the additionally allocated car 50 to another call until the response to the additional hall call in the processing of step S208 is completed.

[0104] If the probability of passengers being left behind is less than a predetermined value (step S206: No), if the number of passengers in the initially allocated car 50 after the response is completed is less than a predetermined number (step S207: No), or if there are no additional calls to the platform within a predetermined time (step S208: No), the process of stopping an additional car 50 in addition to the initially allocated car 50 is not performed.

[0105] This completes the process of allocating the cars 50 by the group control device of the modified example.

[0106] According to the modified group control device, when the probability of passengers being left behind is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and if an additional platform call from the same direction as the assigned car 50 is received from the target floor within a predetermined time after the assigned car 50 departs from the target floor, a predetermined car 50 is assigned from among the multiple cars 50, with shortening the response time to the additional platform call being the priority condition.

[0107] This allows for differentiation of hall calls resulting from a left-behind passenger from normal hall calls. In addition, in such cases, an additional car 50 is allocated with priority given to shortening the response time, so that the unanswered time when a left-behind passenger occurs can be further shortened.

[0108] According to the modified group control device, if there is an additional hall call within a predetermined time and the number of passengers in the car 50 departing from the target floor is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, an additional car is allocated with a priority given to shortening the response time. This makes it possible to more reliably determine that a passenger has been left behind, and prevents allocations from being made with a higher priority given to response time inadvertently.

[0109] According to the modified group control device, an additional car 50 is allocated with a priority given to shortening the response time, and therefore the allocation of other cars 50 that have already been determined is changed. This allows for more flexible allocation of additional cars when a passenger is left behind, and further reduces the unresponsive time when a passenger is left behind.

[0110] According to the group control device of the modified example, after an additional car 50 is assigned, no additional assignments are made to that car 50. This makes it possible to further shorten the non-response time when a passenger is left behind.

[0111] The group control device of the modified example can use the method of the modified example in addition to the method of the above-described embodiment. In this case, for example, the method of the modified example may be applied when there is no corresponding car 50 in the processing of step S107 in Fig. 5 of the above-described embodiment. Furthermore, even if the non-response time is less than the predetermined time in the processing of step S108 in Fig. 5 of the above-described embodiment, the method of the modified example may be applied again to allocate an additional car 50.

[0112] In addition, in the above-mentioned modified example, when the additional car 50 responds to the left-behind passengers, a speaker (not shown) installed at the platform 60 or the car 50, or a display board or the like installed at the platform 60 may be used to inform the passengers of the arrival time of the additional car 50 and encourage them to board the additional car 50.

[0113] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0114] 10...elevator system, 30...group control device, 31...communication unit, 32...control unit, 33...analysis unit, 34...call management unit, 35...memory unit, 36...call registration DB, 37...learning model, 40...elevator control device, 50...car, 51...destination floor call device, 54...load sensor, 60...landing, 61...landing call device.

Claims

1. A group control device that controls the operation of multiple elevator cars between different floors, a control unit that assigns cars among the plurality of cars to respond to hall calls for the different floors; an analysis unit that calculates a probability that a passenger will be left behind at a target floor where the hall call was made among the different floors, using a learning model constructed by machine learning; The analysis unit When a first hall call is received, the number of people waiting at the target floor is estimated, the number of people riding in a first car assigned to respond to the first hall call is estimated, and the probability is calculated from the number of people waiting and the number of people riding; The control unit When the probability is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and when there is a second car among the plurality of cars passing in the direction specified by the first hall call while the door of the first car is open at the target floor, the second car that was scheduled to pass is stopped at the target floor. Group management device.

2. The control unit If the probability is equal to or greater than a predetermined value and if a non-response time after the door of the first car is closed is equal to or greater than a predetermined time, the second car is stopped at the target floor. The group management device according to claim 1 .

3. The control unit When the probability is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and when a second hall call in the same direction as the first hall call is also at the target floor within a predetermined time after the first hall call departs from the target floor, assign a third hall call from among the plurality of halls, with shortening the response time to the second hall call as a priority condition. The group management device according to claim 1 .

4. The control unit When the second hall call is received within the predetermined time and the number of passengers in the first car that departed from the target floor is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, the third car is assigned with a priority given to shortening the response time. The group management device according to claim 3 .

5. The control unit changing the allocation of other cars that have already been determined in order to allocate the third car with the shortening of the response time as a priority condition; The group management device according to claim 3 .

6. The control unit after allocating the third car, no additional allocations are made to the third car; The group management device according to claim 3 .

7. The analysis unit calculating the probability by applying the learning model to at least one of the estimation of the number of people waiting at the target floor and the estimation of the number of people riding in the first car at the time of the response; The group management device according to claim 1 .

8. The analysis unit Estimating the number of people waiting on the target floor using the learning model; The group management device according to claim 7.

9. The first car includes: a load sensor capable of detecting the number of passengers in the first car is provided; The analysis unit The number of passengers in the first car at the time of the response is estimated from the detection result of the load sensor. The group management device according to claim 7.

10. A group control device that controls the operation of multiple elevator cars between different floors, a control unit that assigns cars among the plurality of cars to respond to hall calls for the different floors; an analysis unit that calculates a probability that a passenger will be left behind at a target floor where the hall call was made among the different floors, using a learning model constructed by machine learning; The analysis unit When a first hall call is received, the number of people waiting at the target floor is estimated, the number of people riding in a first car assigned to respond to the first hall call is estimated, and the probability is calculated from the number of people waiting and the number of people riding; The control unit When the probability is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and when a second hall call in the same direction as the first hall call is also at the target floor within a predetermined time after the first hall call departs from the target floor, assign a third hall call from among the plurality of halls, with shortening the response time to the second hall call as a priority condition. Group management device.

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