Distributed Elevator Dispatching via Zone Controllers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator systems require multiple group dispatchers to manage a large number of elevator cars, which increases costs and complexity, as each dispatcher must determine which elevator car can serve a passenger request within its subset, leading to inefficiencies in large buildings.
Innovation Solution
An elevator input device with a passenger interface and controller that can interpret passenger inputs and assign calls to any capable elevator car within the building, using a dispatching algorithm that considers every elevator car, eliminating the need for group controllers and allowing each input device to potentially assign calls to any elevator car based on predetermined criteria such as distance and accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple group dispatchers are used to manage large numbers of elevator cars, then each dispatcher can effectively manage a subset of elevators, but the number of dispatchers required increases substantially, increasing system complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the building into multiple zones, with each zone served by a dedicated input device controller that independently manages elevator assignments within that zone. This segmentation allows parallel processing of elevator requests without requiring a single centralized dispatcher to handle all elevators, thereby reducing the number of dispatchers needed while maintaining service capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
Each input device controller is designed to universally communicate with and assign calls to any elevator car within its zone, rather than being restricted to specific elevators. This multi-functionality allows a single controller to manage multiple elevators, reducing the overall number of controllers required in the system.
2Ease of operation
If a centralized dispatcher manages all elevator cars, then coordination is simplified, but the system becomes vulnerable to single points of failure and requires complex communication infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized dispatcher is divided into multiple distributed zone controllers, each independently managing a portion of the elevator system. This segmentation eliminates single points of failure, as each zone controller can operate autonomously if others fail, thereby improving system reliability while maintaining coordination capabilities through standardized communication protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
A standardized communication protocol acts as an intermediary between zone controllers and elevator cars, enabling coordinated operation without requiring a centralized dispatcher. This mediator layer allows different zone controllers to communicate elevator status and request information, maintaining system-wide coordination while distributing control authority.
3Device complexity
If each input device can only access a limited subset of elevators, then control is simplified, but the ability to optimize elevator assignment across the entire building is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system adds a vertical dimension to the control architecture by organizing controllers in zones that can selectively access elevators in their zone and, when needed, coordinate with adjacent zones. This dimensional organization allows local optimization within zones while maintaining the ability to achieve building-wide optimization through inter-zone communication, thereby improving elevator assignment efficiency without substantially increasing controller complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary elevator input device includes a passenger interface configured to allow a passenger to place a call to indicate a desired elevator service. The elevator input device includes a controller configured to interpret any passenger input regarding desired elevator service. The controller identifies which of a plurality of elevator cars will be able to provide the desired elevator service according to a predetermined criterion. The plurality of elevator cars considered by the controller includes every elevator car that is capable of serving the call. The controller is also configured to assign the call to the identified elevator car. With the input device controller assigning the call to an identified elevator car, the dispatching of elevator cars is distributed among controllers of input devices rather than being accomplished at a single group controller.