Elevator Positioning via Drive Current Clustering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator systems face challenges in determining the number of floors served and the current position of the elevator car, especially in scenarios where infrastructure is not accessible or absolute positioning data is unavailable, such as during retrofitting or remote monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that use trip-dependent physical parameter values, such as trip duration and distance, to determine the number of floors by clustering these values, allowing for the determination of relative trip-dependent data and current position without the need for fixed infrastructure or data connectivity to the elevator's position determination system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional positioning infrastructure (identifiers, sensors) is installed in the elevator shaft, then position determination accuracy is improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The elevator car uses its own drive engine characteristics to determine position, eliminating the need for external positioning infrastructure. The method analyzes trip-dependent physical parameter values (current, speed, acceleration) generated during elevator operation to automatically determine floor mapping and current position without requiring identifiers, sensors, or communication infrastructure in the shaft.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical/electrical positioning infrastructure with a method based on analyzing electrical parameters (drive engine current, speed, acceleration) and using clustering algorithms to determine position. This substitutes physical infrastructure with a computational approach using existing drive system data.
2Reliability
If absolute positioning data measurement options are provided, then position determination reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system determines position reliably using only the elevator's own drive engine characteristics and trip-dependent physical parameters. No external positioning systems, communication infrastructure, or additional sensors are required - the elevator serves itself for positioning using its operational data.
Solution Approach 2:
The method creates a virtual model of the elevator shaft by clustering trip-dependent physical parameter values to define floor positions. This virtual representation allows reliable position determination without physical positioning infrastructure, copying the essential spatial information through statistical analysis of operational parameters.
3Ease of manufacture
If retrofitting is performed without positioning infrastructure, then ease of installation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The retrofitting method requires no installation of positioning infrastructure - it uses the existing drive engine and its operational parameters. The system automatically learns the floor mapping by analyzing trip-dependent physical parameter values during normal operation, achieving precise floor detection without modifying the physical infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs a learning phase during normal elevator operation to automatically determine the mapping between trip-dependent physical parameter values and floor positions. This preliminary clustering process establishes the floor mapping without requiring prior knowledge or infrastructure installation, enabling precise position determination from the start of monitoring.
4Adaptability or versatility
If remote monitoring is implemented without knowledge of elevator infrastructure, then adaptability is improved, but information completeness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The remote monitoring system automatically discovers the elevator's floor mapping and configuration by analyzing trip-dependent physical parameter values during normal operation. No prior knowledge of the elevator infrastructure is required - the system self-configures by clustering the operational data to determine the number of floors and their positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The method creates a complete virtual model of the elevator configuration by clustering trip-dependent physical parameter values. This virtual representation captures all essential information about the number of floors, their positions, and the relationship between drive parameters and floor locations, enabling comprehensive remote monitoring without losing any configuration information.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining a mapping of a number of floors to be served by an elevator includes the steps of: (a) determining, during a multiplicity of trips of an elevator car of the elevator, a trip-dependent physical parameter value which unambiguously depends on at least one of a trip duration and a trip distance; and (b) clustering the determined trip-dependent physical parameter values to clusters to define each of the floors in the mapping. In a training phase, the method automatically determines the number of floors served and then, in an operation phase, classifies each of the observed trips and finally detects and tracks a current position of the elevator car. An elevator monitoring device implementing such method may be retrofitted into existing elevators for e.g. remotely monitoring the elevator operation and does not necessarily require any data transfer between components of the elevator and the elevator monitoring device.