JP5847224B2 - Elevator group management system - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an elevator group management system that controls the operation of a plurality of cars.

  In the elevator group management system, when a new hall call is generated, an evaluation value is calculated for each car using an evaluation function that uses parameters such as the car call registered to each car (hall call and car call) and car position. Among them, the car having the best evaluation value is determined as the assigned car. An “assigned car” is a car to which hall calls are assigned, and is also called an “assigned car”.

  Here, a new system called RTS (Real Time Scheduling) is considered as a system for performing allocation evaluation of hall calls. This is calculated for each car, taking into account the impact of the currently assigned calls on future calls and the impact of future calls on all unanswered calls assigned so far. It is a method to do. By calculating the evaluation value of each car using this RTS, a more optimal assigned car can be selected.

Japanese Patent No. 4690799

  In the above-described RTS, when almost the same evaluation value is calculated, an assigned car is selected based on the relationship between the evaluation values. However, many unexpected calls may occur, for example, during busy hours. For this reason, it may be desirable to assign a hall call to a car closer to the hall call registration floor than to a car with the best evaluation value.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a group management system for an elevator that can save a case where an optimal car cannot be selected only by an evaluation value in a crowded state and the like, and can improve the group management performance. .

The elevator group management system according to the present embodiment is an allocation target based on the current call state and the prediction of future calls in the elevator group management system that controls the operation of a plurality of cars in the invention. An evaluation means for calculating an evaluation value when each car is assigned to the hall call, and an optimal car for selecting the car with the best evaluation value calculated by the evaluation means from the respective cars as the optimal car. When the estimated arrival time until the optimal car selected by the selecting means and the optimal car selecting means arrives at the registered floor of the hall call from the current position is equal to or more than a preset reference time, The evaluation value of the car is converted into a time unit value, and the time difference for each of the above-mentioned optimal cars is not set to a threshold value based on the time obtained as the converted value. Searching of the car, out of the retrieved car and the best car, comprising a assignment control means for assigning the hall call to the car close to the registration floor of the call the hole.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an elevator group management system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing hall call assignment processing of the group management control device according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation curve of the group management control device according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation state of each unit of the group management control device in the same embodiment. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an elevator group management system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing relating to threshold setting of the group management control device according to the embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an elevator group management system according to the first embodiment, in which a configuration is shown in which a plurality of elevators (here, three units of A to C) are group-managed. . The “elevator” referred to here basically means a “car”, and when there are a plurality of vehicles, it is also referred to as “unit”.

  1a-1c in a figure is a number machine control part, 2a-2c is a passenger car. The No. A controller 1a controls the operation of the car 2a of No. A. Specifically, the number control unit 1a performs control of a motor (winding machine) (not shown) for raising and lowering the car 2a, door opening / closing control, and the like. The same applies to the Unit B control unit 1b and the Unit C control unit 1c. These number machine control parts 1a-1c are comprised by the computer.

  The cars 2a to 2c move up and down in the hoistway by driving a motor (winding machine). Various operation buttons including a destination floor button 3a, a door opening button 4a, and a door closing button 5a are installed in the passenger car 2a. The signals of these buttons are transmitted to the group management control device 10 via the No. A machine control unit 1a.

  Similarly, various operation buttons including a destination floor button 3b, a door opening button 4b, and a door closing button 5b are installed in the passenger car 2b. The signals of these buttons are transmitted to the group management control device 10 via the Unit B control unit 1b. Various operation buttons including a destination floor button 3c, a door opening button 4c, and a door closing button 5c are installed in the passenger car 2c. These button signals are transmitted to the group management control device 10 via the C-unit control unit 1c.

  Further, hall buttons 6a, 6b, 6c,... For registering hall calls are installed at halls (elevator halls) on each floor. In the example of FIG. 1, the hall buttons 6a, 6b, 6c... Are connected to the group management control device 10 via the machine control units 1a to 1c, but are configured to be directly connected to the group management control device 10. There may be.

  These hall buttons 6a, 6b, 6c... Are composed of an upward button and a downward button, and are configured to press the upward button or the downward button according to the destination direction of the user. It should be noted that the lowermost floor is composed only of an upward button and the uppermost floor is composed of only a downward button.

  The “hall call” is a call signal registered by operating a hall button installed at a hall on each floor, and includes information on a registered floor and a destination direction. The “car call” is a call signal registered by operating a destination floor button provided in the car room, and includes information on the destination floor.

  The group management control device 10 is a device for performing group management control of the operation of the cars 2a to 2c of each car, and is configured by a computer similarly to the car control units 1a to 1c. In the present embodiment, the group management control device 10 includes a state monitoring unit 11, an RTS evaluation unit 12, an optimum car selection unit 13, an allocation control unit 14, and an allocation execution unit 15. Note that these processing units are actually realized by software or a combination of software and hardware.

  The state monitoring unit 11 monitors the driving state (car position, driving direction, door open / closed state, etc.) of the cars 2a to 2c of each unit, the occurrence state of calls (hall call and car call), etc., and the RTS evaluation unit 12 and the allocation control unit 14.

  The RTS evaluation unit 12 performs an evaluation process by RTS (Real Time Scheduling) when a new hall call is generated on an arbitrary floor, and determines the allocation target based on the current call state and the prediction of a call that will occur in the future. An evaluation value is calculated when the hall call is assigned to the cars 2a to 2c.

  The evaluation value is an index representing the optimum when a hall call is assigned. This evaluation value indicates that the smaller the numerical value is, the higher the evaluation is, and the larger the numerical value is, the lower the evaluation is. Since RTS is well known, detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

  The optimal car selection unit 13 selects the car having the best evaluation value calculated by the RTS evaluation unit 12 from the cars 2a to 2c as the optimal car. The “optimum car” means a car having the best RTS evaluation value. On the other hand, “assigned car” means a car to which a hall call is actually assigned.

  The assignment control unit 14 performs hall call assignment control for the cars 2a to 2c. The allocation control unit 14 normally determines the optimal car selected by the optimal car selection unit 13 as it is as an allocation car. In the present embodiment, the assignment control unit 14 searches for another car by another method and determines an assigned car under the following conditions.

[conditions]
The predicted arrival time Tx for the optimal car hall call based on the RTS evaluation value is equal to or greater than a preset reference time Ts.

  The reference time Ts is set in consideration of the possibility that an unpredictable call (hall call / car call) will be registered before the optimal car arrives at the hall call registration floor. For example, “30 seconds”. It is.

  That is, when the predicted arrival time Tx for the hall call of the optimal car is the reference time Ts = 30 seconds or more, the allocation control unit 14 converts the evaluation values of the cars 2a to 2c into time unit values, A car having a time difference of less than a preset threshold TH is searched. When there is a corresponding car, the assignment control unit 14 determines a car close to the registered floor of the hall call as an assigned car, and assigns the hall call to the car. Details will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  The allocation execution unit 15 outputs a hall call allocation signal to the car finally determined by the allocation control unit 11. For example, when the car 2a is determined, the allocation execution unit 12 outputs a hall call allocation signal to the A-unit control unit 1a. The A-unit control unit 1a receives the hall call assignment signal to cause the car 2a to respond to the registration floor of the hall call.

The operation of this embodiment will be described in detail below.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing hall call assignment processing of the group management control device 10 of the present system. Note that the processing shown in this flowchart is executed by the group management control device 10 that is a computer reading a predetermined program.

  When a new hall call is generated on an arbitrary floor (Yes in step S11), information on the hall call is given to the RTS evaluation unit 12 via the state monitoring unit 11 of the group management control device 10. Thereby, the RTS evaluation part 12 calculates the evaluation value of RTS for every car 2a-2c (step S11).

  Specifically, first, the RTS evaluation unit 12 adds a virtual call that is virtually generated in consideration of a current call state and a prediction of a call to be generated in the future to the hall call to be allocated. The RTS evaluation unit 12 calculates an evaluation value when these calls are assigned to the cars 2a to 2c in accordance with the RTS evaluation formula (step S12).

  The RTS evaluation values of the cars 2a to 2c calculated by the RTS evaluation unit 12 are given to the optimum car selection unit 13. Thereby, the optimal car selection part 13 selects the car with the best evaluation value among the cars 2a to 2c as the optimal car. The RTS evaluation unit 12 gives the selected optimal car information to the allocation control unit 14 together with the RTS evaluation values of the cars 2a to 2c (step S13).

  When the optimal car is selected, the allocation control unit 14 first calculates the predicted arrival time Tx until the optimal car arrives at the hall call registration floor from the current position (step S14). The predicted arrival time Tx is calculated from the distance from the current position of the optimum car to the hall call registration floor, information on registered calls (hall call / car call) existing between them, the operation speed, and the like.

  Here, the allocation control unit 14 determines whether or not the predicted arrival time Tx is equal to or greater than a preset reference time Ts (for example, 30 seconds) (step S15). As described above, the reference time Ts is set in consideration of the possibility that an unpredictable call will be registered before the optimal car arrives at the hall call registration floor.

  Here, if the predicted arrival time Tx is short, the optimal car arrives at the hall call registration floor earlier, so it is considered that there is a low possibility that an unexpected call (hall call / car call) will be registered during that time. Therefore, when the predicted arrival time Tx is shorter than the reference time Ts (Yes in step S15), the allocation control unit 14 determines the optimal car selected based on the RTS evaluation value as the allocation car as it is, and assigns the optimal car to the optimal car. A hall call is assigned (step S20). Specifically, the allocation control unit 14 outputs an allocation signal to the unit control unit corresponding to the allocation car in the unit control units 1a to 1c via the allocation execution unit 15, and registers the allocation car for the hall call. Let the floor respond.

On the other hand, if the predicted arrival time Tx is long, the possibility that an unexpected call is registered during that time will be high. Therefore, when the predicted arrival time Tx is equal to or longer than the reference time Ts (Yes in step S15), the allocation control unit 14 converts the RTS evaluation values of the cars 2a to 2c into time unit values according to the equation (1). And re-evaluation (step S16).

  In the above equation (1), the RTS evaluation value is divided by the registered number of calls, and the square root is taken for the result. The reason for dividing the RTS evaluation value by the number of registered calls is that, in the RTS evaluation formula, the evaluation value is calculated from the cumulative number of calls including the prediction of calls that will occur in the future. Therefore, the average value of one call is obtained by dividing the RTS evaluation value by the number of call registrations. The reason for “taking the square root” is that the waiting time for each call is squared in the RTS evaluation formula.

An operation curve as shown in FIG. 3 will be described as an example.
For example, it is assumed that an upward hall call is registered on the first floor, and the A machine (car 2a) responds. At this time, the hall call in the downward direction has already been registered on the fifth floor, the third floor, and the second floor, and the waiting time of each floor is T1, T2, and T3.

・ Case a
In case a, the waiting time of each floor is T1 = 20 seconds, T2 = 30 seconds, and T3 = 10 seconds. In the RST evaluation formula, these waiting times are squared. Therefore, when attention is paid only to the waiting time, the value becomes 20 ² +30 ² +10 ² = 1400. Actually, an RST evaluation value is obtained according to an evaluation formula including other elements.

・ Case b
In case b, it is assumed that the waiting time of each floor is T1 = 10 seconds, T2 = 20 seconds, and T3 = 5 seconds. The RST evaluation value in this case is a value such as 10 ² +20 ² +5 ² = 525 when attention is paid only to the waiting time.

  In this way, in the RST evaluation formula, evaluation is performed with emphasis on the waiting time, so that the evaluation value changes greatly only by changing the waiting time slightly. Therefore, by converting the evaluation value into a time unit value using the above equation (1), the average waiting time for one call can be compared.

  The allocation control unit 14 reviews the selection of the optimum car based on the time obtained by the above equation (1). That is, the allocation control unit 14 checks the time difference between the optimum car selected in step S13 and the other cars (step S17).

  If there is a car whose time difference between the optimum cars is less than the threshold value TH (Yes in step S18), the allocation control unit 14 selects the hall call among the optimum cars selected in step S13. The one closer to the registered floor is determined as an assigned car, and a hall call is assigned to the car (step S19). Specifically, the allocation control unit 14 outputs an allocation signal to the unit control unit corresponding to the allocation car in the unit control units 1a to 1c via the allocation execution unit 15, and registers the allocation car for the hall call. Let the floor respond.

  The threshold value TH is set in advance according to traffic demand and is, for example, “1 second”. In other words, if the time difference of less than 1 second is the optimum car selected by the RST, the hall call is assigned to the side closer to the hall call registration floor. This is because if the temporal conditions are the same, the closer to the distance, the higher the possibility of arrival.

  On the other hand, if there is no car whose time difference between the optimum cars is less than the threshold TH (No in step S18), the assignment control unit 14 determines the optimum car selected based on the RTS evaluation value as the assigned car as it is. The hall call is assigned to the optimal car (step S20). Specifically, the allocation control unit 14 outputs an allocation signal to the unit control unit corresponding to the allocation car in the unit control units 1a to 1c via the allocation execution unit 15, and registers the allocation car for the hall call. Let the floor respond.

A specific example is shown in FIG.
Assume that a hall call is registered on the first floor, and that RTS has elected Unit A (car 2a) as the optimal car. When the predicted arrival time Ta of the car 2a for the hall call on the first floor is equal to or longer than a reference time Ts (for example, 30 seconds), the RTS evaluation value of each unit is converted into a time unit value by the above equation (1). The selection of the optimal car is reviewed.

  Here, it is assumed that the time of Unit A obtained by the above equation (1) is ta, the time of Unit B is tb, and the time of Unit C is tc.

ta = 10.5
tb = 11.0
tc = 12.0
Assume that the times ta, tb, and tc of each unit have the above values. In this case, since the time difference between the optimal car A and B is less than the threshold TH (for example, 1 second), the hall call is assigned to the one closer to the hall call registration floor (1st floor) of A and B. It is done. In the example of FIG. 4, since the B car is closer to the first floor than the A car, the hall call is assigned to the car 2 b of the B car.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, by converting the RTS evaluation value of each unit into a time unit value and comparing it, even in a situation where an unpredictable call is registered at the time of congestion, A hall call can be assigned to the most suitable car to make it respond quickly.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described.

  In the second embodiment, in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment, a function of setting a threshold value TH according to traffic conditions is provided. This threshold value TH is set as a condition for searching for a car other than the optimum car by RTS.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an elevator group management system according to the second embodiment. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same part as the structure of FIG. 1 in the said 1st Embodiment, and the description shall be abbreviate | omitted.

  In the second embodiment, the group management control device 10 is provided with a traffic demand learning unit 16 and a threshold setting unit 17. The traffic demand learning unit 16 learns (stores) the traffic demand of each floor in a predetermined time unit. The traffic demand on each floor can be obtained by, for example, counting the hall calls registered by the operation of the hall buttons 6a, 6b, 6c.

  In addition, if the number of people boarding from each floor is estimated using load sensors (not shown) installed in the cars 2a to 2c of each car, the traffic demand on each floor can be detected more accurately. Furthermore, a monitoring camera may be installed at the hall on each floor, and the number of passengers on each floor may be detected by analyzing the video of the monitoring camera.

The threshold setting unit 17 sets a threshold TH that is a condition for searching for a car other than the optimal car by RTS based on the traffic demand of each floor learned by the traffic demand learning unit 16. Specifically, the threshold setting unit 17 determines whether it is a busy time or a quiet time based on the traffic demand of each floor learned by the traffic demand learning unit 16. Threshold setting unit 17, raised than when the threshold value TH at the time of normal as long as the time of congestion, lower than at normal times the threshold value TH, if the off-time.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing relating to threshold setting of the group management control device 10 of the present system. Note that the processing shown in this flowchart is executed by the group management control device 10 that is a computer reading a predetermined program. Further, the process of this flowchart is executed by a routine different from the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, and the threshold value TH set here is reflected in step S18 of FIG.

  The traffic demand learning unit 16 of the group management control device 10 acquires the traffic demand of each floor through the state monitoring unit 11 and learns (stores) it in predetermined time units (step S21). The threshold setting unit 17 determines whether it is busy or quiet based on the traffic demand of each floor learned by the traffic demand learning unit 16 (step S22).

  For example, when determining the traffic demand of each floor by the number of registered calls of each floor, the threshold setting unit 17 compares the number of registered calls of each floor per predetermined time with a preset number of registered normal times. As a result, when the number of calls registered on each floor per predetermined time is larger than the number of registrations in normal times, the threshold setting unit 17 determines that the time is congested. Conversely, when the number of calls registered on each floor per predetermined time is smaller than the number of registrations during normal times, the threshold setting unit 17 determines that the time is quiet.

  In the case of congestion (Yes in Step S23), the threshold setting unit 17 increases the currently set threshold TH more than in normal times (Step S24). This is because there is a high possibility that an unpredictable call is registered when there is congestion, and an error is likely to occur in the RTS evaluation value. Therefore, by increasing the threshold value TH (for example, 2 seconds), many candidates other than the car selected as the optimum car by the RTS are taken in.

If during off-peak (No in step S23), the threshold setting unit 17, below the gel than in the normal time a threshold value TH which is currently set (step S25). This is because there is a low possibility that an unpredictable call is registered when it is quiet, and an error is unlikely to occur in the RTS evaluation value. Therefore, by lowering the threshold value TH (for example, 0.5 seconds), priority is given to the car selected as the optimum car by the RTS.

  In addition, when it is not crowded or quiet, normal time and a preset threshold value TH (for example, 1 second) are applied.

  The threshold value TH set by the threshold value setting unit 17 is given to the allocation control unit 14. The allocation control unit 14 searches for a car that satisfies the threshold TH, determines the searched car or the optimal car selected by the RTS as an assigned car, and assigns a hall call to the car (FIG. 2). Steps S18 to S20).

According to the second embodiment, the threshold TH is set in accordance with the traffic conditions, using the set threshold value TH, the candidate of the output has been car other than the optimum car by RTS is searched The

  In this case, if the RTS evaluation value is likely to cause an error, a lot of candidates other than the car selected as the optimal car by the RTS will be taken in, and hall calls will be assigned to the car that can respond as quickly as possible. Can do. On the other hand, when the RTS evaluation value has a small error, a hall call can be preferentially assigned to the car selected as the optimum car by the RTS.

  In the example of FIG. 6, the threshold value TH is switched at the time of congestion and at a time of lightness. However, for example, the threshold value TH may be set stepwise by further dividing the degree of traffic demand.

  According to at least one embodiment described above, it is possible to provide a group management system for an elevator that can save a case where an optimal car cannot be selected only by an evaluation value in a crowded state and the like and can improve group management performance. Can do.

  In addition, although some embodiment of this invention was described, these embodiment is shown as an example and is not intending limiting the range of invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  1a to 1c ... Unit control section, 2a to 2c ... Car, 3a to 3c ... Destination floor button, 4a to 4c ... Door open button, 5a to 5c ... Door close button, 6a to 6c ... Hall button, 10 ... Group management Control device, 11 ... state monitoring unit, 12 ... RTS evaluation unit, 13 ... optimum car selection unit, 14 ... allocation control unit, 15 ... allocation execution unit, 16 ... traffic demand learning unit, 17 ... threshold setting unit

Claims (5)

In an elevator group management system that controls the operation of multiple cars,
An evaluation means for calculating an evaluation value when assigning each of the cars to the hall call to be allocated based on a current call state and a prediction of a call to be generated in the future;
An optimum car selecting means for selecting, as an optimum car, a car having the best evaluation value calculated by the evaluating means from among the respective cars;
When the estimated arrival time until the optimum car selected by the optimum car selection means arrives at the hall call registration floor from the current position is longer than a preset reference time, the evaluation of each car The value is converted into a time unit value, and a car whose time difference for each optimum car is less than a preset threshold is searched based on the time obtained as the converted value. An elevator group management system comprising: allocation control means for allocating the hall call to a car close to the hall call registration floor of the car . The allocation control means is
If the estimated arrival time of the optimal car for the hall call is shorter than the reference time, or if there is no car whose time difference between the optimal cars is less than the threshold , the hall call is assigned to the optimal car. The elevator group management system according to claim 1 . The reference time, an elevator according to claim 1, wherein said optimum car call predictions not until arriving at the registration floor of the call the holes are set in consideration of the possibility to be registered Group management system. Traffic demand learning means for learning traffic demand on each floor,
Elevator group control system according to claim 1, characterized by further comprising a threshold setting means for setting the threshold value based on the traffic demand learning above each floor traffic demand learned by means. The threshold setting means includes:
Based on the traffic demand of each floor learned by the traffic demand learning means, it is determined whether it is congested or quiet, and the threshold is raised above normal during the congested time, and the threshold is exceeded during the congested time. The elevator group management system according to claim 4, wherein the system is lower than normal.

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