Elevator Floor Bypass via Passenger Presence Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elevator systems often waste energy and increase passenger wait times due to multiple elevator cars being dispatched to the same floor, even though only one is boarded, as passengers can call multiple groups and enter the first arriving car, leaving the others to stop unnecessarily.
Innovation Solution
An elevator system with sensors, such as cameras or Doppler effect sensors, that detect passenger presence in multiple areas before dispatching cars, allowing controllers to cancel destination calls if no passengers are present for a threshold time, enabling cars to bypass empty floors and proceed to the next destination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple elevator cars are dispatched to the same floor in response to destination calls from multiple groups, then passengers have more options to call elevators, but energy is wasted and passenger wait times increase due to unnecessary stops
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of passenger presence using sensors (camera, Doppler sensor, or capacitive sensor) before dispatching elevator cars. This preliminary action allows the system to identify when no passengers are actually present to board, enabling cancellation of destination calls and bypass of empty floors before energy-intensive stopping occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors passenger areas with sensors and provides real-time feedback to the controller. When sensors detect that passengers have exited the passenger area or were never present, the controller receives feedback to cancel pending destination calls and redirect elevators to subsequent destinations, preventing wasteful stops.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple elevator cars are dispatched to the same floor, then passengers have more options to call elevators, but passenger wait times increase due to unnecessary stops
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of passenger presence using sensors before dispatching elevator cars. This preliminary action allows the system to identify when no passengers are actually present to board, enabling cancellation of destination calls and bypass of empty floors before energy-intensive stopping occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors passenger areas with sensors and provides real-time feedback to the controller. When sensors detect that passengers have exited the passenger area or were never present, the controller receives feedback to cancel pending destination calls and redirect elevators to subsequent destinations, preventing wasteful stops.
3Loss of energy
If sensors are installed to detect passenger presence, then unnecessary elevator stops can be prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors (camera, Doppler sensor, or capacitive sensor) as intermediary devices to detect passenger presence without requiring direct interaction between passengers and the elevator control system. These sensors act as mediators that provide indirect detection, enabling intelligent dispatch decisions while maintaining system modularity and manageable complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces energy consumption and wait times by ensuring only necessary elevator cars stop at floors with passengers, optimizing resource use and improving passenger experience.
Implementation Method 1
The first sensor and second sensor may comprise at least one of a camera or Doppler effect sensor
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for floor bypass in an elevator system are provided. Aspects include receiving, by the first controller, a first elevator destination call to a first floor, wherein the first destination call causes a first elevator car to dispatch to the first floor. First sensor data associated with a first passenger area associated with the first elevator car is collected, from the first sensor. A presence of a passenger in the first passenger area is detected based at least in part on the first sensor data. And the first elevator car is operated based on the presence of the passenger in the first passenger area.