Elevator Cabin Divider for Passenger-Robot Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elevator passengers may be resistant to travel with robots, other passengers with pets, and the like, necessitating a system that allows comfortable travel in such situations.
Innovation Solution
An elevator system with a divider system that can transition between a retracted and deployed state, dividing the cabin into separate zones, controlled by a controller that determines trigger conditions based on sensors and wireless data to manage passenger comfort and privacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the elevator cabin is undivided, then the space is open and accessible, but passengers may feel uncomfortable when traveling with robots, pets, or other passengers
Solution Approach 1:
The elevator cabin is divided into separate zones using a movable divider system that can segment the space into a front zone and an aft zone. This allows the cabin to adapt to different passenger compositions by creating separate areas, thereby improving comfort for passengers traveling with robots, pets, or other passengers without permanently altering the cabin structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The divider system is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to transition between deployed and retracted states based on real-time conditions. The controller monitors sensor data and dynamically adjusts the divider position to optimize passenger comfort and safety in different situations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the divider system is deployed to separate zones, then passenger comfort and privacy are improved, but visual access between zones is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The divider incorporates transparent or translucent panels that allow visual access between zones while still providing physical separation. The transparency level can be adjusted to balance privacy needs with visual connectivity, enabling passengers to see each other across the divider without compromising the separation benefits.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the divider system is deployed, then comfort and privacy are enhanced, but ventilation and temperature control become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation system is segmented to serve the front and aft zones independently through separate air handlers and return air grilles. This allows each zone to be ventilated and temperature-controlled separately, maintaining comfort in divided spaces without requiring a completely new ventilation system - existing components are repurposed and repositioned to work with the divided cabin configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
An elevator system, having: an elevator car, the elevator car including: a front end that includes a front doorway; an aft end that includes an aft doorway; and a cabin extending from the front end to the aft end; and a divider system operationally coupled to the elevator car within the cabin, intermediate the front and aft ends, that is operational to transition between: a retracted state, where the cabin is undivided; and a deployed state where the divider system divides the cabin into a front zone that is accessible by the front doorway and an aft zone that is accessible by the aft doorway.