Elevator Lockdown Mode Controller for Emergency Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lockdown procedures for facilities lack control over elevator systems during emergency situations, such as civil unrest or terrorist attacks, as they do not provide mechanisms to manage elevator operations effectively.
Innovation Solution
An elevator system with a lockdown mode that allows for parameterization of elevator car movement, door control, and announcements, enabling the system to be controlled and operated according to predefined settings when a lockdown is activated, including options to stop at specific landings, control door access, and make announcements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing lockdown procedures are used, then individuals can be instructed on where to go and how to act, but elevator systems cannot be controlled during emergency situations
Solution Approach 1:
The lockdown mode control system is designed to work across multiple elevator systems and various emergency scenarios simultaneously. The controller can manage door operations, car positioning, and communication functions within a single integrated system, making the solution universally applicable to different facility types and emergency situations without requiring separate control mechanisms for each scenario.
2Reliability
If elevator systems are fully controlled during lockdown, then security is enhanced, but system complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-configures multiple lockdown modes with predetermined door control behaviors, car positioning instructions, and communication templates. When a lockdown is initiated, the controller automatically applies the selected mode's parameters without requiring real-time operational decisions, thereby maintaining high security control while simplifying the operator's task to merely selecting and confirming the appropriate pre-established mode.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple lockdown modes are provided, then system adaptability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system manages multiple lockdown modes by varying specific operational parameters such as door control behavior (forced closed, normal operation, remote control), car positioning requirements, and communication message content. Each lockdown mode is defined by a unique combination of these parameters rather than fundamentally different control mechanisms, allowing the system to maintain adaptability across various emergency scenarios while keeping the underlying control architecture relatively simple and manageable.
Data Source
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AI summary
An elevator system (101) includes an elevator car (102) configured to travel in a hoistway (117); an elevator car door (103) configured to open and close; a machine (111) configured to impart force to the elevator car (102); an interface configured to generate a lockdown mode signal; and a controller (115) configured to control operation of at least one of the machine (111) and the elevator car door (103) in response to the lockdown mode signal.