Dynamic Elevator Car Call Scheduling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional elevator systems often result in prolonged wait times for passengers, especially in high-rise buildings, as they complete a first call schedule in one direction before servicing passengers in the opposite direction, leading to extended waiting times for passengers located far from the elevator car, and may disregard new passenger requests, causing them to abandon their ride.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic car call scheduling system that compares elevator parameters with interrupt criteria, such as distance and service time, to override the initial servicing route and generate a second route in the opposing direction when a new passenger request is close enough, allowing immediate service without completing the first route.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the elevator car completes a first call schedule according to a servicing route in one direction before invoking a new servicing route in the opposite direction, then the elevator system maintains systematic route completion, but passengers located far from the elevator car incur extensive waiting time
Solution Approach 1:
The elevator control system dynamically adjusts servicing routes based on real-time conditions. When a new call request is received, the system evaluates whether to interrupt the current route and generate a new route in the opposite direction, making the routing strategy adaptive rather than fixed. This dynamic approach allows the system to prioritize minimizing passenger wait time over completing pre-planned routes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary evaluation of routing options when a new call request arrives. By assessing the current elevator position, pending calls, and potential route interruptions in advance, the control system can make informed decisions about whether to interrupt the current route, thereby preventing excessive waiting times before the decision is implemented.
2Reliability
If the elevator car follows a first servicing route to service passengers, then the elevator system maintains route efficiency, but new passenger requests arriving during route execution are disregarded, causing passengers to abandon their ride
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors new call requests during route execution and uses this feedback to decide whether to interrupt the current route. The system evaluates the distance to the new call location and compares it against the remaining route, using this feedback loop to determine when route interruption is appropriate to maintain service availability while minimizing wait time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters dynamically by switching from completing a pre-planned route to executing a new route in the opposite direction. This parameter change allows the elevator to respond to new passenger requests, maintaining service availability and preventing passenger abandonment.
3Productivity
If the elevator car services multiple floors along a servicing route before changing direction, then the elevator system completes scheduled calls, but passengers on floors far from the current direction incur longer waiting times
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically determines the optimal point to change direction by evaluating new call requests against the current servicing route. Instead of following a fixed sequence of floors, the elevator can interrupt the current route and change direction earlier when a new call is received, balancing service throughput with reduced waiting times for passengers on distant floors.
Data Source
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Figure 3A
AI summary
An elevator system (200) includes at least one elevator car (202), and an elevator drive system configured to drive the elevator car in a first direction (212a) and a second opposing direction (212b) based on at least one drive command signal. The elevator system further includes an electronic elevator control module (203) that determines a first servicing route (208) and a second servicing route (210). The first servicing route (208) services a first floor (206d) located along the first direction (212a) in response to at least one first call request. The second servicing route (210) overrides the first servicing route (208) so as to dynamically service at least one second floor (206e) located along the second direction (212b) based on a comparison between at least one parameter of the at least one elevator car (202) and at least one interrupt criteria.