EVOLUTIONARY MODERNIZATION OF LARGE ELEVATOR GROUPS - TOWARD INTELLIGENT MECHATRONICS

We present an evolutionary modernization procedure for high-range elev ator groups. From the control point of view, a modern group of elevato rs consists of a large number of microcomputers and efficient communic ation networks. The intelligent control nodes are distributed around t he entire elevator environment: in the machine room, in shafts, in car s, and in lobbies. Therefore, the elevator control network resembles a n office computing network with truly evolutionary capabilities. This is the case solely in the state-of-the-art installations. However, the lifetimes of elevator control systems are typically 15-25 years, and thus the system architecture of the currently operating elevator base is highly different than that outlined above. Full modernization of a large group of 4-8 high-rise elevators is always a major monetary inve stment and also a remarkable temporary disturbance for the passenger t raffic. In this paper, we introduce a novel modernization concept that makes it practical to perform the modernization of an elevator contro l system step-by-step. The main motivation of such an approach is to g radually move from the old technology to the new one, and spread the r equired investments over several years, as well as greatly reduce the disturbances to the elevator users. Our new procedure defines a smooth evolution path from the present system components to the intelligent mechantronic structures. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.