Elevator Control for Reliable Robot Boarding in Congested Buildings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for controlling elevators for robot passengers often result in inefficient service provision due to issues like summoning congested elevators or robots failing to get on, hindering their ability to provide services effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for controlling elevators that detect and prioritize robot passengers, setting dedicated elevators, and configuring user interfaces to indicate robot usage, while avoiding interference with human users and optimizing elevator allocation based on congestion and space availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an elevator is simply summoned and used by the robot or a robot control system controlling the robot, then the robot can request elevator service, but a case where a congested elevator is summoned or the robot cannot get on the elevator frequently occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting robot presence in advance and pre-assigning dedicated elevators before the robot actually needs to board. The control system identifies robots that will provide services in specific floors and proactively assigns appropriate elevators, ensuring the robot is already matched with an available elevator when service time arrives, thereby preventing congestion and boarding failures.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary mechanism is introduced between the robot and the elevator system - a dedicated control system that mediates elevator assignments. This intermediary layer manages the matching between robots and elevators by considering service floor requirements, elevator availability, and congestion status, acting as a buffer that prevents direct conflicts and ensures reliable robot-elevator pairing.
2Reliability
If a dedicated elevator is set for the robot for a given time period, then the robot can reliably access the elevator, but the elevator cannot serve other users during that time
Solution Approach 1:
The elevator assignment system is made dynamic rather than static. The dedicated elevator assignment is time-bound and flexible - when the robot's service time window ends or the elevator becomes available again, the system automatically reassigns the elevator to serve other users. This dynamic allocation ensures robot reliability during service periods while maintaining elevator versatility for general use when robots are not present.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial dedication - the elevator is dedicated only for the specific time period and service requirements of the robot, not permanently or exclusively. This partial action approach allows the elevator to be assigned to the robot when needed while remaining available for other users during different time windows, balancing dedicated service reliability with overall system adaptability.
3Productivity
If the elevator is controlled to move to a floor where the robot is to provide the service, then the robot can reach its destination efficiently, but the elevator may ignore summons from users who want to use the elevator
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor elevator status, robot location, and user summons. When a user summons the elevator, the system receives feedback about the user's request and adjusts the elevator's destination accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that while the elevator prioritizes robot service delivery, it can still respond to user needs when appropriate, maintaining both robot efficiency and user accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The elevator control system dynamically adjusts its behavior based on real-time conditions. When a robot is assigned to a dedicated elevator, the system dynamically sets the destination to the robot's service floor. When user summons are detected and the elevator is not currently serving a robot, the system dynamically responds to user requests. This dynamic control strategy balances robot delivery efficiency with user ease of operation through adaptive decision-making.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling an elevator for a robot passenger includes detecting that at least one robot providing a service on at least one of the floors within a building has gotten on an elevator moving through the floors; controlling the elevator to move to a floor where the robot is to provide the service; and indicating whether the robot is using the elevator on at least one of an internal user interface and an external user interface of the elevator. The external user interface is configured to indicate that the elevator is being used as a dedicated elevator for the robot, and to disable at least one of indicators indicating whether the elevator is going up or down, the current location of the elevator, and a floor where the elevator is scheduled to stop, when the elevator is being used as a dedicated elevator for the robot.