Elevator Boarding Control Using Mobile Signal Occupancy Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robots face challenges in determining whether to board an elevator safely among multiple elevators in a building, as existing methods require estimating the number of persons inside each elevator, which is difficult without opening the doors and using vision sensors, potentially causing inconvenience or danger to humans.
Innovation Solution
A robot system that includes a central controller, first and second sensing modules, and a weight sensor to estimate the number of persons in elevators by measuring the electric power of communication radio waves from mobile devices, allowing the robot to determine which elevator to board based on this data without opening the doors, using machine learning and electric power data derived through tests and machine learning methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the robot uses vision sensors to estimate the number of persons in elevators by opening the doors, then the accuracy of person counting is improved, but the convenience and safety of human users deteriorates due to potential inconvenience or danger
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces communication radio waves from mobile devices as an intermediary medium to indirectly detect the number of persons in elevators. Instead of directly observing persons with vision sensors, the system uses radio wave signal strength measurements as a mediator to infer occupancy information, thereby avoiding the need to open elevator doors and potential harm to human users.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical approach of using vision sensors and opening doors with an electromagnetic field-based approach. The system uses radio wave signal strength measurements to detect occupancy, substituting direct visual/mechanical interaction with indirect electromagnetic field measurement, thus eliminating the harmful effects of opening doors.
2Speed
If the robot boards an elevator without estimating the number of persons, then the operation speed is improved, but the safety and comfort of human users deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary estimation of the number of persons in elevators using radio wave signal strength measurements before the robot makes a boarding decision. This preliminary action allows the robot to identify suitable elevators in advance, ensuring safety and comfort while maintaining efficient operation speed by avoiding last-minute decisions or failed boarding attempts.
3Measurement precision
If the robot opens elevator doors to count persons using vision sensors, then the measurement accuracy is improved, but the time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the time-consuming mechanical action of opening doors with rapid electromagnetic field measurements. The system can measure radio wave signal strength instantly without physically opening doors, dramatically reducing the time required for occupancy detection while maintaining measurement accuracy through signal processing algorithms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient robot movement by accurately estimating the number of occupants in multiple elevators, reducing the risk of inconvenience and danger to humans by determining the safest elevator to board, even when doors are closed.
Implementation Method 1
measure an electric power of a communication radio wave emitted by a mobile communication device inside the elevator
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a robot system and an operation method thereof. The robot system includes a central controller, a robot configured to communication with the central controller and capable of autonomous driving, and a first sensing module configured to communicate with the central controller, to be mounted inside an elevator, and configured to measure an electric power of a communication radio wave emitted by a mobile communication device inside the elevator. The robot may transmit or receive a wireless signal on a mobile communication network established according to 5G communication.