Elevator Crowd Sensing for Dynamic Car Dispatching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elevator systems face inefficiencies in dispatching due to unpredictable crowd sizes and arrival times, leading to inaccurate arrival time predictions and inefficient car allocation.
Innovation Solution
Implement a crowd sensing system to capture data on lobby area occupancy, adjust dispatching schedules dynamically using artificial intelligence and on-demand commands, and provide priority requests for empty elevator cars based on user needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If time-based priority scheduling is used for elevator dispatching, then system control is simplified, but dispatching efficiency deteriorates when crowd sizes vary unpredictably
Solution Approach 1:
The dispatching system dynamically adjusts elevator car assignments based on real-time crowd size and arrival time predictions. Instead of fixed time-based priority scheduling, the system continuously adapts dispatch decisions to current lobby occupancy conditions, allowing optimal performance across varying crowd scenarios
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates crowd sensing feedback to monitor lobby area occupancy and uses this information to adjust dispatching schedules. The feedback loop enables the system to respond to actual crowd conditions rather than relying solely on predetermined schedules, improving dispatching efficiency while maintaining manageable control complexity
2Ease of operation
If remote elevator calling via mobile application is implemented, then user convenience is improved, but arrival time prediction accuracy deteriorates due to crowd variability
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary crowd size prediction and analysis before processing elevator requests. By anticipating crowd formation patterns and lobby occupancy levels in advance, the system can provide more accurate arrival time predictions even when users initiate remote calls via mobile application
Solution Approach 2:
The crowd sensing system acts as an intermediary between user requests and elevator dispatching. It provides additional contextual information about lobby conditions that enhances the accuracy of arrival time predictions, bridging the gap between convenient remote calling and precise scheduling
3Measurement precision
If crowd sensing systems are deployed, then dispatching accuracy is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The crowd sensing system is designed to serve multiple functions: detecting lobby occupancy, predicting crowd formation, informing dispatching decisions, and providing user notifications. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering comprehensive benefits across the elevator system
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses readily available mobile devices and communication infrastructure to implement crowd sensing and notification capabilities. By leveraging existing technologies and infrastructure, the implementation complexity and cost are reduced while still achieving improved dispatching accuracy
Data Source
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AI summary
A crowd sensing method includes capturing crowd data associated with a lobby area of an elevator system (402), determining a travel impact for a user based on the crowd data (404), and outputting a notification of a travel plan adjustment for the user based on the travel impact (406).