I'm looking for some software, perhaps open source, that would determine which floors each elevator stops at. Is there an industry leader in such software, or does everyone pretty much use the same basic and widely published algorythm? Any help would be most appreciated.

-- Maurice McIver (Elevator@Integrateddatabases.com), March 04, 2002

Answers

It all depends on how much information you have. The more you know about the texture of the tenancy on each floor, the more accurately you can predict the probability of a stop there at any given time.

If you have no definite knowledge and are dealing in the pure hypothetical, the classic Basset Jones formula gives an estimate of the total number of stops related to the possible stops and the number of passengers per trip.

-- John Brannon (akaelevman@AOL.com), March 04, 2002.

I've got an idea for making better use of information, but in order to see how effective my idea is, I need a way to compare it to the software available. I suspect my idea will improve elevator efficiency between 10 and 30% and so I suspect it may be worth some money. I'm happy to considering paying anyone who may be interested in helping me.

Thanks

-- Maurice McIver (Elevator@Integrateddatabases.com), March 04, 2002.

All of the multinational cos uses their own algorithm which they have, to some degree, optimised over the years. I doubt there would be any open source apart from some theory, possible published as part of somebody uni paper or similar. There may be some data published in Elevator World, check their website. However if you got a new idea on how to apply the calculated floor resonse, develop the mathmatical model first. Putting it in to source code would be realatively straight forward. Also if you got the desire/skills you could develop a similation program to prove your theory. Sure if you got something which is good there is buck in it, but as always with software, it pretty hard to sell without some very hard proof (this is where the simulator comes in). Also its preety easy to let the cat out of the bag when discussing your product with potential buyers. Good luck. Kim

-- Kim (pedersenmills@xtra.co.nz), March 16, 2002.

I have an idea for an overlay that could be used on relay or microprocessor type controls. I am interested in working for an elevator company as a field engineer. I hve been in the elevator trade 24 years. I have a very good working knowledge of swift5000's and plenty of written information for futura and meridias. I am frustrated by the lack of support for systems that do not release any information about how there system works so you have to treat the controller as a black box. What make it work? Magic?????? ps my cell number is 443 871-5693

-- Jerry Ferro (jferro@ixpres.com), March 12, 2004.

Every elevator goes up and down. Many companies can make that happen. But what differentiates the products of one company from another is customer service...and in this case it is the dispatching scheme that takes place when a passenger customer presses a call button. Think about it. This IS what lets brand X get the passenger to the destination landing faster than brand Y. Most companies that make car controllers use proprietary algorithms for single car and multi-car group dispatching. It is proprietary simply because it is an important part of what gives them an advantage over their competition. The days of relays are gone. With computerized controls, it is certainly possible for the car controller to be programmed for or learn and remember passenger traffic patterns related to time of day, day of the week, month, pre-scheduled events, etc., etc. and automatically adjust 'homing' and traffic flow assignments and annunciator/signage accordingly.

Yes, good algorithms are worth mony. That's why they are proprietary.

-- Don Vollrath (dvollrath@magnetek.com), March 12, 2004.