Elevator Car Mover Intelligent Battery State of Charge Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous elevator car movers face operational delays due to depleted power, as existing systems lack effective monitoring and control mechanisms to manage the state of charge (SOC) of their power supplies, leading to inefficient power management and potential service disruptions.

Innovation Solution

A car mover system equipped with a power supply and controllers that monitor the SOC, executing health monitor protocols to adjust motion control parameters and direct the car mover to park or charge, ensuring proactive and reactive power management by adjusting dispatching requirements and directing the car mover to charging stations based on SOC levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the car mover operates autonomously without SOC monitoring, then the system complexity is reduced, but operational delays occur due to depleted power

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidoperational delays
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by monitoring the state of charge (SOC) in advance and executing health monitor protocols before power depletion occurs. The controller proactively adjusts motion control parameters and directs the car mover to charging stations based on predicted power needs, preventing operational delays before they happen.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback through continuous SOC monitoring and health monitor protocols. The controller receives feedback on power levels and automatically adjusts dispatching requirements, motion parameters, and charging schedules, creating a closed-loop control system that prevents power-related operational delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the car mover implements comprehensive SOC monitoring and control protocols, then power management efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower management efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The car mover implements self-service through autonomous health monitor protocols and self-directed charging. The controller automatically monitors SOC, adjusts motion parameters, and navigates to charging stations without external intervention, improving power management efficiency while the automation masks the underlying complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies dynamics by continuously adapting motion control parameters based on real-time SOC conditions. The controller dynamically adjusts velocity, acceleration, and routing decisions to optimize power consumption, allowing efficient power management through flexible, condition-based control rather than rigid complex systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Use of energy by moving object

If the car mover adjusts motion control parameters proactively, then power utilization is optimized, but operational flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower utilizationVSAvoidoperational flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains operational flexibility through dynamic parameter adjustment. Rather than fixed constraints, the controller adaptively modifies motion parameters like velocity and acceleration based on current SOC and operational conditions, optimizing power utilization while preserving the ability to respond to varying service demands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system optimizes power utilization through parameter changes in motion control. By adjusting velocity profiles, acceleration rates, and routing parameters based on SOC levels, the system achieves efficient power consumption while maintaining operational versatility through conditional parameter modification rather than rigid constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Duration of action of moving object

If the car mover directs itself to charging stations, then charging downtime is reduced, but loss of information about optimal charging timing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging downtimeVSAvoidloss of information
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system prevents information loss through continuous feedback on SOC levels and charging station availability. The health monitor protocols provide real-time data on power status, and the controller uses this feedback to make informed decisions about optimal charging timing, balancing proactive charging with operational needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by monitoring SOC and identifying optimal charging opportunities before power depletion occurs. The controller proactively schedules charging events based on predicted power needs and station availability, reducing charging downtime while maintaining information about optimal timing through advance planning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3957589A1Elevator car mover providing intelligent control based on battery state of charge
Publication Date: 2022.02.23 OTIS ELEVATOR CO
  • EP3957589A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3957589A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3957589A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a car mover, configured to move an elevator car in lane of a hoistway, having: a power supply configured to power one or more motors to drive a respective one or more wheels; a car mover controller operationally connected to the power supply and a supervisory controller operationally connected to the car mover controller, wherein the car mover controller and the supervisory controller are configured to execute health monitor protocols to thereby: monitor a state of charge (SOC) of the power supply; and control the car mover in response to determining that the power supply is in a low SOC.