The Impact of Next-Generation Smart Elevator Solutions

Google

Advances of the Internet of Things (IoT) in the Elevator industry have changed the market completely. Proactive, condition-based analysis, predictive maintenance is possible in any type of elevator solution by utilizing IoT. Smart Elevators can monitor performance, make real-time maintenance decisions, provide updated status, advance reporting, etc. allows us to control and monitor the elevator remotely. 

Why switching towards a Smart Elevator System is a good option?

A smart elevator is controlled or monitored via different forms of connectivity. Elevator internally connects with the custom hardware, using a Wi-Fi or LAN interface, and communicates with the elevator controller using the GPIO pin or UART. Hardware provision itself to IoT central and send the signals (any change in GPIO pin or register value) to the IoT central. Whenever the elevator controller changes the signal it will be detected by the hardware, in that case, the hardware sends that signal to the IoT central. IoT central will export the data to the logic application layer and takedown to the main logic to generate a meaningful signal, fault prediction, fault detection, and sent to the user interface using the WebSocket.

The next-generation IoT Elevator is proving to be more efficient than the traditional elevators. Earlier with traditional elevators, we have to check each parameter of elevators manually like maintenance testing, records, status, etc. which was too time-consuming and cost-effective. There are several methods of utilizing a smart elevator system, let’s discuss in brief:

• Avoid Unauthorized Access: Suppose, there are groups of people who are using the elevator to reach their station. Now, only authorized people can enter into the smart elevator who have fingerprint access or smart card. The elevator is connected to a fingerprint sensor or smart card by RS232 DB9 connector, sharing that data using UART. PSOC6 hardware will read the register using the Modbus protocol and transfer the signals to the IoT-enabled public cloud (like AWS, Azure). Hence, the smart elevator can be accessible by the authorized group of people.

• Predict Destination: In this case, the system will predict using Artificial Intelligence(AI). The system recognizes the face and shares the user’s data with the IoT-enabled cloud. The IoT cloud will check the user’s authorization and run the Machine Learning (ML) model algorithm and define the destination floor of the user. If the user already visited multiple floors earlier, then there will be a voice message from the elevator’s end using the VoIP protocol, in response to the elevator, the user can speak and tell the arrival floor using the voice command. 

Advantages of Smart Elevator Solutions:

• Maintenance Prediction: A fault is an anomaly generated based on the I/O pin or register value of the elevator. Based on GPIO pin and generated fault ML model will predict the level of maintenance and determine at which part of the elevator maintenance is needed. When the GPIO pin changes, it will run on the cloud’s logic and generate elevators data (like status, faults).

• Live Elevator Monitoring: With a smart elevator, sending a signal to the IoT central and at the same time IoT central signal to the elevator generate meaningful elevator data. That data will be updated live on the user interface so that the user can monitor & control the elevator at their end & remote the location; the user can also track the elevator status and the fault which exists in the elevator.

• Remote Controlling: At some level, if the user needs to pass some commands to the elevator like start-stop the elevator at a specific duration, mainline switch on/off, or run some engine rules on the elevator, based on the user command, the elevator will perform by using the IoT central command. Here, it saves manpower and time to check or do things manually.

• Remote Testing: Faults will be identified using the GPIO pin, so based on the fault data and GPIO value, the elevator technician can debug the elevator issues easily. With GPIO pin testing value, it will be performed and can be debugged by changing the elevator’s active high value remotely, so the technician can remotely identify the elevator failure causes.

• Cost-Effective: As we know, the cost of the elevator technician will be very high, using the IoT central elevator can be remotely operated and tested so that the technician cost can be leveraged at some level. According to the scenario, the user can set the rules like the usage of the elevator at a definite time or use only some main elevators, etc. leads to power consumption reduction.

Zero Downtime: Elevator downtime can be scaled down if we have such fault detection techniques. The user can easily figure out the power failure from the elevator controller with the help of IoT and can define some of the rule engines on the power failure that will start the elevator on the backup power. Users can also record the timeout of the backup power as well, so by using the rule, elevator downtime can be reduced.