Elevator Call Allocation Using Rope Bending Cost Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elevator rope wear is not adequately considered in existing elevator call allocation systems, leading to imbalanced bending and premature replacement of ropes, which is costly and disruptive.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that divides elevator ropes into segments, monitors their bending counts and conditions, and optimizes call allocation to balance rope wear, using sensors and models to predict and manage wear based on bending data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If elevator call allocation is optimized for traditional objectives (waiting time, journey time, energy consumption), then operational efficiency is improved, but elevator rope wear becomes imbalanced and premature replacement is required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides each elevator rope into multiple rope segments (e.g., 3-5 segments per rope) and tracks bending counts for each segment independently. This segmentation enables granular monitoring of wear distribution along the rope length and between different ropes, allowing the allocation system to identify and correct imbalances before they lead to premature replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where bending count data from rope segments is continuously collected and fed back to the elevator group control unit. This feedback enables real-time adjustment of call allocation decisions to balance wear across all ropes, preventing any single rope from reaching its replacement threshold prematurely while maintaining operational efficiency.
2Reliability
If elevator ropes are replaced based on standard requirements when any rope reaches wear limit, then safety standards are met, but all ropes must be replaced simultaneously even if many are still in good condition
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary monitoring and balancing of rope wear through continuous tracking of bending counts on individual rope segments. By proactively managing wear distribution before any rope reaches the replacement threshold, the system prevents the scenario where all ropes must be replaced simultaneously, thereby reducing unnecessary material loss while ensuring safety compliance.
3Productivity
If traditional multi-objective optimization is used for call allocation, then operational parameters are optimized, but rope wear balancing is not considered
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the traditional multi-objective optimization framework with rope wear balancing by integrating bending count data from segmented ropes into the existing call allocation algorithm. This unified approach simultaneously optimizes operational parameters (waiting time, journey time, energy) and rope wear distribution without requiring a completely new allocation system, thus managing complexity while achieving multiple goals.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~2A
Figure 2B~3B
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for an elevator callallocation of an elevator group (110). The methodcomprises: obtaining (410) call information indicativeof at least one generated elevator call; generating(420) a plurality of candidate allocations in response toobtaining the call information; defining (430) at leasttwo allocation objectives for each candidate allocation,wherein the defined at least two allocation objectivescomprise a rope bending cost and at least one otherallocation objective; and selecting (440) the allocationfor the at least one elevator call from among the can-didate allocations based on the defined at least two al-location objectives. The invention relates also to an el-evator computing system (120, 130) and a computerprogram product for an elevator call allocation of anelevator group (110).