Intelligent Surface System for Adaptive Personnel Movement Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern building systems, such as elevators and escalators, lack the ability to autonomously diagnose user intent and special circumstances like number of users, disabilities, or mood, which limits their efficiency and user experience.
Innovation Solution
An intelligent surface system equipped with sensors and a controller that can determine user conditions, such as location, speed, and intent, to control personnel movement devices like elevators and escalators, enabling them to expedite or adjust operations based on user needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional pre-programmed operating parameters are used for personnel movement devices, then device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but adaptability to different user conditions and operating efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments user detection into multiple independent sensor types (pressure sensors, optical sensors, RFID readers) deployed throughout the building infrastructure. Each sensor type detects specific user characteristics, and the controller integrates these segmented data streams to form a complete user profile, enabling adaptive response without requiring a single complex all-in-one system
Solution Approach 2:
The controller is designed as a universal intelligence unit that can interpret data from multiple sensor types and apply appropriate response protocols for different user conditions. The same controller infrastructure serves multiple functions: detecting user presence, analyzing user characteristics, determining optimal device operation, and coordinating responses across different personnel movement devices
2Productivity
If traditional pre-programmed operating parameters are used for personnel movement devices, then ease of operation is maintained, but productivity and operating efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The personnel movement devices perform self-service by autonomously detecting user conditions through deployed sensors and automatically adjusting their operation without requiring user input. The system serves itself by using sensor data to make real-time decisions about device operation, such as prioritizing elevator dispatch for users with mobility impairments or adjusting escalator speed based on detected user characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where sensors monitor user conditions, the controller analyzes this feedback data, and adjusts device operation in real-time. This closed-loop control enables the system to respond dynamically to changing user needs, improving productivity by optimizing device performance based on actual operating conditions rather than relying on fixed pre-programmed parameters
3Adaptability or versatility
If sensors and autonomous diagnosis capabilities are added to personnel movement devices, then adaptability to user conditions improves, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges sensor functionality into existing building infrastructure elements rather than adding separate dedicated sensor systems. Pressure sensors are integrated into flooring materials, optical sensors are incorporated into wall panels or ceiling structures, and RFID readers are embedded in access control systems. This merging approach enables comprehensive user detection while avoiding the manufacturing complexity of installing numerous separate sensor systems
Data Source
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AI summary
An intelligent surface system is provided for deployment in a space. The intelligent surface system includes a personnel movement device (PMD) configured to move an individual between first and second locations, sensors deployed to sense characteristics of the individual and a controller configured to determine a condition of the individual based on the characteristics and control an operation of the PMD in accordance with the determined condition of the individual.