Elevator calling coordination for robots and individuals

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021284485-A1
Application number	US-202017100538-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 20, 2020
Priority date	Mar 16, 2020
Publication date	Sep 16, 2021
Grant date	—

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.

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 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.

5 . 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.

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

7 . 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.

8 . The method of claim 7 , 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.

9 . 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.

10 . The method of claim 1 , 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.

11 . The method of claim 10 , 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.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
instructing the first robot to wait at the first elevator bank.

13 . The method of claim 11 , 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.

14 . The method of claim 11 , 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.

15 . The method of claim 1 , 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.

16 . The method of claim 15 , 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.

17 . 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.

18 . 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.

19 . 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.

20 . A method of controlling use of an elevator system by a robot, the method comprising:
detecting a real-time passenger flow of an elevator system using at least one of a people counter system of the robot and a people counter device, the people counter device being installed in at least one of an elevator lobby of the elevator system and an elevator car of the elevator system; and determining a future passenger flow in response to the real-time passenger flow; and adjusting use of the elevator system by the robot in response to at least one of the real-time passenger flow and the future passenger flow.

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

• B66B5/0037

  Performance analysers · CPC title

• B66B2201/104

  Call input for a preferential elevator car or indicating a special request · CPC title

• B66B1/2408 Primary

  where the allocation of a call to an elevator car is of importance, i.e. by means of a supervisory or group controller · CPC title

• G05D1/0225

  involving docking at a fixed facility, e.g. base station or loading bay (parking aids B62D15/027) · CPC title