Elevator Dispatching for Passenger Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator control systems face limitations in maintaining passenger separation while maintaining traffic handling capacity and efficiency, as they often require elevator cars to complete service to one group before assigning them to another, leading to decreased performance.
Innovation Solution
An advanced elevator system and control strategy that allows assigning calls to elevator cars while ensuring passenger separation requirements are met, without requiring cars to complete service to one group before serving another, by using a dispatching method that considers both passenger separation and future serviceability, such as the lowest remaining response time algorithm, to optimize car assignments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If zone control is used to keep elevators assigned to service one zone from being assigned to service another zone, then passenger separation requirement is satisfied, but traffic handling capacity and efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the elevator car assignment flexible and changeable based on real-time conditions. Instead of statically assigning elevators to specific zones, the system dynamically reassigns elevators to different zones based on current traffic patterns and service requirements, allowing the same elevator to serve different passenger groups at different times while maintaining separation requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the building into different zones with specific service requirements, but allows elevators to transition between serving different segments. The control system divides elevator service into time-based segments where an elevator serves one zone during a particular time window, then transitions to serve another zone in a subsequent time window, maintaining passenger separation while optimizing overall system productivity
2Reliability
If elevator cars must complete service to one group before being assigned to another group, then passenger separation is maintained, but system efficiency and traffic handling capacity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control system performs preliminary actions by predicting future elevator availability and proactively assigning elevators to upcoming calls before they are requested. The system looks ahead in time and prepares elevator assignments in advance, ensuring that when a call is made, the appropriate elevator is already positioned and ready, thereby reducing waiting time while maintaining separation requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action by keeping elevators continuously productive rather than idle between service groups. The control system optimizes transition times between different passenger groups and ensures that elevators are always engaged in useful work, eliminating unnecessary idle time and maximizing the system's overall productivity while maintaining passenger separation
Data Source
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AI summary
An exemplary method of assigning calls to elevator cars includes ensuring that a passenger separation requirement is satisfied. The passenger separation requirement is satisfied when a passenger belonging to one service group is not carried in the same elevator car simultaneously with another passenger belonging to a different service group, for example. A call is assigned to an elevator car to carry a passenger belonging to the one service group while the elevator car is assigned to carry or is already carrying another passenger belonging to the different service group.