Shuttle Elevator Passenger Allocation Using Sensor-Guided Lobby Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional elevator systems in supertall or megatall buildings require numerous stops to accommodate passengers, leading to increased travel time and reduced effective floor space, and existing shuttle elevator systems lack efficient passenger allocation methods, resulting in overcrowding and inefficient travel.
Innovation Solution
A shuttle elevator system with sensors and display units that dynamically allocate passengers to available elevators based on real-time passenger counts, using an elevator system controller to optimize loading and reduce crowding by directing passengers to the most efficient shuttle cars.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional elevator systems are used in supertall buildings, then all floors can be served, but travel time increases due to numerous stops
Solution Approach 1:
The building's elevator system is segmented into multiple zones with dedicated shuttle elevators for each zone. Each shuttle elevator serves a specific floor range (e.g., floors 1-20, 21-40) rather than all floors, eliminating the need for numerous stops across the entire building height while maintaining comprehensive floor coverage through coordinated zone operations.
Solution Approach 2:
Sky lobbies serve as intermediary transfer floors between different shuttle elevator zones. Passengers traveling across zone boundaries take a shuttle to their destination zone's sky lobby, then transfer to another shuttle for the final destination, reducing overall travel time compared to a single elevator stopping at every floor.
2Loss of time
If more elevator shafts are added to reduce travel time, then travel time decreases, but effective floor space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding more shafts, the system segments existing shafts into zone-specific shuttles. Each shuttle operates within its designated floor range, allowing faster travel within zones without requiring additional shafts, thereby preserving effective floor space while achieving reduced travel times.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically assigns passengers to appropriate shuttles based on destination floor, optimizing the use of existing shafts and elevators. This dynamic allocation eliminates the need for static additional shafts, maintaining floor space while achieving efficient travel times through intelligent routing.
3Device complexity
If shuttle elevators use fixed allocation methods, then system operation is simple, but passenger crowding occurs and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The passenger allocation system transitions from fixed to dynamic assignment. Sensors detect passenger presence and queue lengths in real-time, and the controller dynamically directs passengers to the most efficient available shuttle, optimizing load distribution and minimizing wait times while maintaining operational simplicity through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensor feedback from queues and shuttle loading states to continuously optimize passenger allocation. This feedback mechanism enables the controller to adaptively direct passengers to underutilized shuttles, preventing crowding and maintaining high travel efficiency without complex manual intervention.
4Productivity
If sensors and display units are added to optimize passenger allocation, then travel efficiency improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors and display units to enable self-service passenger guidance. Passengers independently view real-time shuttle availability on displays and board the most efficient shuttle without operator intervention, improving travel efficiency while the automated sensor-display-controller system manages complexity internally rather than requiring manual coordination.
Data Source
AI summary
A shuttle elevator loading system includes a plurality of shuttle elevators configured to service a building lobby. At least one sensor is configured to detect at least one passenger and at least one display unit is located at a display zone of the lobby. An elevator system controller is in signal communication with the at least one sensor and the at least one display unit. The elevator system controller determines a number of allocated passengers corresponding to each shuttle elevator and generates assignment information that directs a non-allocated passenger to an available shuttle elevator.