Elevator Stop Control Using Robot Boarding Demand and Free Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elevator operation systems that do not consider robot boarding plans may be inefficient and result in unnecessary stops due to a lack of integrated information about robot boarding demands.
Innovation Solution
An elevator control system utilizing image sensors and robots to determine available space in real-time, integrating data from robots and CCTV to optimize elevator stops based on passenger and robot occupancy, and communicate non-stop notifications when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If elevator operation systems use traditional stopping methods without robot boarding information, then the system operates with simple control logic, but the elevator makes unnecessary stops and operates inefficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having robots provide boarding plan information to the elevator control apparatus before the elevator arrives. This allows the elevator to predict boarding demand in advance and make informed stopping decisions, eliminating unnecessary stops and improving operational efficiency without adding complex real-time decision-making requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously receiving robot boarding plan information and occupancy data, which the control apparatus uses to dynamically adjust elevator stopping decisions. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables the system to optimize efficiency while managing complexity through structured information flow
2Productivity
If the elevator stops at every platform to check for boarding demand, then the system ensures maximum passenger pickup, but the elevator makes unnecessary stops when space is already full
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of boarding demand by receiving robot boarding plans before the elevator arrives at each platform. This allows the elevator to skip platforms where either the elevator is full or no boarding is expected, thereby reducing unnecessary stops and travel time while maintaining boarding efficiency at relevant platforms
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses real-time feedback from robot occupancy information and elevator capacity status to dynamically adjust stopping decisions. This feedback mechanism enables the elevator to optimize its route by skipping platforms where boarding is not possible or unnecessary, reducing travel time while maintaining high boarding efficiency
3Productivity
If the elevator does not stop at platforms with potential boarding demand, then the elevator saves time and improves efficiency, but it may miss picking up passengers or robots that need boarding
Solution Approach 1:
The system ensures reliability through comprehensive feedback from robot boarding plan information and real-time occupancy status. This feedback allows the elevator to accurately identify platforms where boarding is actually needed versus those where skipping is safe, maintaining high service reliability while improving operational efficiency through optimized stopping decisions
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary verification of boarding demand through robot information before making skip decisions. This preliminary action ensures that the elevator only skips platforms where boarding is confirmed unnecessary, maintaining service reliability while achieving efficiency gains from reduced stopping at platforms where full service is not needed
Data Source
AI summary
An elevator control apparatus may include a free space detector configured to detect the free space within the elevator based on CCTV within an elevator and data receive by a robot, a boarding demand prediction unit configured to predict a boarding demand of the platform based on platform monitoring data, and an elevator controller configured to determine whether to stop at the platform based on the boarding demand and the free space, where the elevator controller may be configured to predict the number of passengers and the number of robots that can be boarded and provide them to the corresponding platform when it has determined to stop, and to provide a non-stop notification to the corresponding platform when it has determined not to stop.