Elevator Controller Cancels Calls When Lobby Is Empty
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elevator systems face inefficiencies due to passengers calling for service but not remaining at the landing long enough, leading to delays and excess travel time for other passengers.
Innovation Solution
An elevator system with a controller that uses sensors to determine if a passenger has left the lobby before the elevator arrives, allowing for the cancellation of the service call and optimizing elevator allocation, which includes real-time data processing from thermal or motion sensors and communication with a building management system to manage resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the elevator system responds to every elevator call request, then passenger service coverage is improved, but system efficiency deteriorates due to unnecessary trips when passengers have already left
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification of passenger presence before the elevator arrives at the lobby. Sensors detect whether the passenger is still present in the lobby area, and the controller cancels the service call in advance if the passenger has left, preventing unnecessary elevator trips and improving system efficiency while maintaining service coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback through sensors that continuously monitor lobby occupancy and transmit real-time data to the controller. This feedback loop enables the controller to make informed decisions about whether to maintain or cancel elevator service calls based on actual passenger presence, resolving the contradiction between service coverage and efficiency
2Reliability
If the elevator waits for called passengers, then service accuracy is improved, but time efficiency deteriorates due to delays for other passengers
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification of passenger presence before the elevator arrives and implements early cancellation of service calls when passengers are absent. This ensures that elevators only wait for confirmed passengers, maintaining service accuracy for actual users while eliminating unnecessary waiting time that would affect other passengers
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts elevator waiting behavior based on real-time sensor data about passenger presence. Rather than following a fixed waiting protocol, the elevator control system adapts its behavior - waiting only when passengers are confirmed present and canceling calls when passengers have left, thereby optimizing both service accuracy and time efficiency
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 wasted time and energy by efficiently managing elevator service calls, minimizing delays, and optimizing resource allocation, thereby improving passenger convenience and system efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor operationally connected to the controller, wherein when effecting the third determination the controller receives data from the sensor indicative of the sensor failing to detect the first passenger in the first period of time
Implementation Method 2
the sensor is one or more of a thermal sensor and a motion sensor
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an elevator system in a building, the elevator system including a first elevator car for transporting a passenger between a plurality of building levels, the system including a controller that controls the elevator car, the controller: rendering a first determination that the passenger has requested elevator service from the first lobby, rendering a second determination to assign the elevator car to provide service to the passenger at a first lobby for the first level, effecting a first transmission to the elevator car to effect the second determination, rendering a third determination that the first lobby becomes unoccupied in a time period between effecting the first transmission and the elevator arriving at the first lobby for servicing the first passenger, rendering a fourth determination to release the elevator car from effecting the second determination, and effecting a second transmission to the elevator car to effect the fourth determination.