Elevator calling coordination for robots and individuals

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12497263-B2
Application number	US-202017100538-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 20, 2020
Priority date	Mar 16, 2020
Publication date	Dec 16, 2025
Grant date	Dec 16, 2025

Abstract

A method of controlling a first elevator system comprising a first elevator car is including: receiving a first elevator call from a first robot for the first elevator system to transport the first robot from a first elevator bank on a landing to a destination landing; and adjusting operation of at least one of the first robot and the first elevator system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of controlling a first elevator system comprising a first elevator car, the method comprising:
receiving a first elevator call from a first robot for the first elevator system to transport the first robot from a first elevator bank on a landing to a destination landing; and adjusting operation of at least one of the first robot and the first elevator system; the method further comprising:
receiving a second elevator call from an individual;
obtaining a robot ride-share preference for the individual; and
determining that the individual cannot ride with the first robot in response to the robot ride-share preference.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the first elevator system cannot accommodate the first elevator call; instructing the first robot to move to a second elevator system comprising a second elevator car; and transferring the first elevator call to the second elevator system.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the first elevator system cannot accommodate the first elevator call; instructing the first robot to move to a second elevator system comprising a second elevator car, the second elevator system serving the landing at a second elevator bank; and transferring the first elevator call to the second elevator system.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the first elevator car can accommodate the first elevator call; and instructing the first elevator car to move to the landing.

5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
instructing the first robot to move to the first elevator bank; and instructing the first robot to enter the first elevator car.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a second elevator call from a second robot; determining that the first elevator car can accommodate the first elevator call and the second elevator call; and instructing the first elevator car to move to the landing.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
instructing the first robot to move to the first elevator bank; instructing the second robot to move to the first elevator bank; instructing the first robot to enter the first elevator car; and instructing the second robot to enter the first elevator car.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a second elevator call from a second robot; determining that the first elevator car can accommodate the first elevator call and the second elevator call; and instructing the first elevator car to move to the landing.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
instructing the first elevator car to move to the landing to pick up the individual; and instructing the first robot not to enter the first elevator car.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
instructing the first robot to wait at the first elevator bank.

11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
instructing the first robot to move to a second elevator system comprising a second elevator car, the second elevator system serving the landing at a second elevator bank; and transferring the first elevator call to the second elevator system.

12 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
instructing the first robot to move to a second elevator system comprising a second elevator car, the second elevator system being located at a second elevator bank; instructing the first robot to move to the second elevator bank via stairs or an escalator; and transferring the first elevator call to the second elevator system.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first elevator call comprises a first call code and the method further comprises:
receiving a second elevator call from a second robot, the second elevator call comprising second call code; determining that the first call code is prioritized over the second call code; and instructing the first elevator car to move to the landing and pick up the first robot.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first elevator call comprises a first call code and the method further comprises:
receiving a second elevator call from an individual, the second elevator call comprising second call code; determining that the first call code is prioritized over the second call code; and instructing the first elevator car to move to the landing and pick up the first robot.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first elevator call comprises a first call code and the method further comprises:
receiving a second elevator call from an individual, the second elevator call comprising second call code; determining that the second call code is prioritized over the first call code; and instructing the first elevator car to move to the landing and pick up the individual.

16 . A method of controlling a first elevator system comprising a first elevator car, the method comprising:
receiving a first elevator call from a first robot for the first elevator system to transport the first robot from a first elevator bank on a landing to a destination landing; and adjusting operation of at least one of the first robot and the first elevator system; the method further comprising:
determining that the first elevator system cannot accommodate the first elevator call;
instructing the first robot to move to a second elevator system comprising a second elevator car, the second elevator system being located at a second elevator bank; instructing the first robot to move to the second elevator bank via stairs or an escalator; and transferring the first elevator call to the second elevator system.

17 . A method of controlling a first elevator system comprising a first elevator car, the method comprising:
receiving a first elevator call from a first robot for the first elevator system to transport the first robot from a first elevator bank on a landing to a destination landing; and adjusting operation of at least one of the first robot and the first elevator system; the method further comprising:
receiving a second elevator call from an individual;
obtaining a robot ride-share preference for the individual; and
determining that the individual can ride with the first robot in response to the robot ride-share preference.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
instructing the first elevator car to move to the landing to pick up the individual and the first robot; determining when the individual has entered the first elevator car; and instructing the first robot to enter the first elevator car after the individual has entered the first elevator car.

Assignees

• Otis Elevator Co

Inventors

• Nichols Stephen Richard
• Keenan Jr Michael P
• Manes Enrico
• Cope Nicholas
• Zhang Yu
• Wang Shenhong

Classifications

• G05D1/661

  Docking at a base station (delivering or retrieving payloads G05D1/667) · CPC title

• B66B2201/4661

  for priority users · CPC title

• B66B2201/4615

  Wherein the destination is registered before boarding · CPC title

• B66B2201/405

  by input of special passenger or passenger group · CPC title

• B66B2201/235

  Taking into account predicted future events, e.g. predicted future call inputs · CPC title