Autonomous Flying Object for Elevator Hoistway Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional remote monitoring of elevators involves permanently installed sensors that collect data continuously, leading to inefficiency and requires downtime for manual inspections, causing inconvenience to users.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous flying object with sensors is used for temporary monitoring and inspection, allowing access to the elevator hoistway and transmitting data to a remote service center, minimizing downtime and eliminating the need for permanent sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If permanently installed sensors are used to continuously collect diagnostic data, then monitoring reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sensing function from permanent installation and relocates it to a portable autonomous flying object. This allows the sensing capability to be temporarily deployed only when monitoring is needed, eliminating the need for permanently installed sensors while maintaining monitoring reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous flying object serves multiple functions: it can monitor multiple different elevator installations, perform both inspection and data collection tasks, and be reused across various locations. This multi-functionality reduces the need for dedicated permanent sensors at each site.
2Measurement precision
If manual inspection by service technician is conducted, then inspection quality is improved, but loss of time increases due to elevator downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical manual inspection process with an autonomous flying object equipped with sensors. This substitution allows inspection to occur without human presence in the hoistway, eliminating the need to take the elevator out of commission and reducing downtime to minimal levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous flying object performs self-guided inspection tasks using its onboard sensors and navigation capabilities. It autonomously navigates to the elevator installation, positions itself in the hoistway, collects data, and transmits information back, eliminating the need for manual intervention and associated downtime.
3Reliability
If permanently installed sensors are deployed, then monitoring coverage is improved, but cost and economic efficiency worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous flying object is designed to be temporarily deployed for monitoring tasks and then recovered or moved to another location. This approach allows the same monitoring resource to serve multiple installations over time, significantly reducing the total number of sensors needed compared to permanent installation at each site.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than investing in expensive permanent sensor installations at multiple locations, the patent uses a single reusable autonomous flying object that can be deployed as needed. This approach is more economically efficient while maintaining adequate monitoring coverage across multiple installations.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for inspecting and monitoring an elevator installation includes sending an autonomous flying object having at least one sensor to the elevator installation, and granting access to a hoistway of the elevator installation to the autonomous flying object. The autonomous flying object is positioned within the hoistway, and data collected by the associated sensor is sent to a remote elevator service center. The autonomous flying object and the associated sensor can be used to monitor and inspect the elevator installation on a temporary basis, for example for a specific number of hours, days or weeks. Once the autonomous flying object has gained access to the hoistway, the elevator installation can resume normal operation thereby keeping downtime to a minimum. After completing its tasks at one elevator installation, the autonomous flying object can be directed by the remote elevator service center to monitor and inspect another elevator installation.