Devices, methods and computer programs for elevator call allocation with stochastic multi-objective optimization are disclosed. At least some of the disclosed embodiments allow an elevator group control to take into account knowledge about possible future passenger arrivals when allocating new calls. At the same time, the new elevator calls can be allocated via optimizing multiple objectives, such as the waiting time, the time to destination, and/or the energy consumption. In other words, the invention makes it possible to both take into account the uncertainty related to future passengers and control the trade-off between different optimization objectives.

An elevator scheduling method and an apparatus, a server, and a computer-readable storage medium are provided. The elevator scheduling method is applied to a server, and comprises: determining an elevator schedule request, wherein the elevator schedule request comprises starting floor information and target floor information; determining a target elevator to be scheduled to a target robot based on the elevator schedule request and operation information of schedulable elevators; generating a control instruction based on the starting floor information, the target floor information, and identification information of the target elevator; and sending the control instruction to an elevator control device, wherein the elevator control device controls movement of the target elevator.

According to an aspect, a method includes receiving a passenger request to reserve an elevator car of an elevator system to travel to a targeted destination. At least two different travel options to the targeted destination are determined based on a plurality of elevator car travel plans comprising at least two elevator cars having different travel ranges. The at least two different travel options are output to an interactive display. At least one of the at least two elevator cars is reserved responsive to a user selection of one of the at least two different travel options.

A drive system for driving an electric motor includes a drive control unit and a frequency converter including a speed controller. The drive control unit is configured to: define a speed reference of the electric motor; preset operating parameters of the speed controller to provide a first response time of the speed controller, before a drive of the electric motor is initiated; adjust at least one operating parameter of the speed controller to provide a second response time of the speed controller, after the speed of the electric motor reaches a constant speed, wherein the second response time is slower than the first response time; and readjust the at least one operating parameter of the speed controller to provide the first response time, before a deceleration from the constant speed is initiated. A method is disclosed for controlling the drive system for driving the electric motor.

A method for elevator call allocations in an elevator group of an elevator system includes applying statistical traffic forecasts modelling future passenger arrivals in the elevator system; receiving an indication of at least one elevator call; generating, for a fixed parameter, a set of scenarios based on the statistical traffic forecasts; determining a quality attribute for each candidate allocation policy of a set of candidate allocation policies by simulating, for each candidate allocation policy, the set of scenarios according to the candidate allocation policy in a current elevator call allocation situation in the elevator system; selecting a candidate allocation policy based on the quality attributes associated with the candidate allocation policies; and allocating the at least one elevator call to at least one elevator in the elevator group according to the selected candidate allocation policy.

A method of generating a floor height map for an elevator system having an elevator car traveling in a hoistway includes: accessing run group data, the run group data including information corresponding to a plurality of runs of an elevator car for a plurality of floor traversals by the elevator car; evaluating potential floor heights for at least one floor of the hoistway and potential floor travel sequences in response to the run group data; determining a likelihood of each combination of potential floor heights and potential floor travel sequences for the plurality of floor traversals; selecting potential floor heights and a potential floor travel sequence, as selected floor heights and a selected floor travel sequence, in response to the likelihood; generating the floor height map in response to the selected floor heights and the selected floor travel sequence.

A method for dispatching an elevator car that includes determining a first duration for each of a plurality of first elevator cars to travel from a current location to a first location, and dispatching at least one of the first elevator cars to the first location when the first duration of the at least one first elevator car is less than a threshold duration. The method includes determining a second duration for an occupant to travel from the first location to a second location, and each of a plurality of second elevator cars to travel from the current location to the second location, when the first duration for the first elevator cars exceeds the threshold duration. The method includes dispatching at least one of the second elevator cars to the second location when the second duration of the at least one second elevator car is less than the threshold duration.

A method for operating an elevator installation includes receiving a destination call of a passenger at a control unit and selecting an elevator car from a set of available elevator cars for transporting the passenger. The elevator car is selected such that elevator car spacing rules are observed. The method further includes determining an arrival time of the selected elevator car at the boarding floor, and determining a first arrival time of the passenger at an elevator landing corresponding to the selected elevator car on the boarding floor. The method includes directing, under the proviso that the first arrival time of the passenger at the elevator landing precedes the arrival time of the selected elevator car by a defined margin, the passenger to a waiting zone of a set of available waiting zones. The waiting zone is selected such that waiting zone spacing rules are observed.

An elevator system includes a plurality of elevator cars, an elevator controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of elevator cars. The elevator controller is configured to generate a signal to a first elevator car for indicating an elevator call to the first elevator car. The first elevator car is configured to, in response to a receipt of the signal, initiate a communication with at least one second elevator car for receiving information relating to a status of the at least one second elevator car, and in response to a receipt of the information, generate a control signal with respect to serving the elevator call received by the first elevator car. A method for controlling an elevator car in the elevator system is also disclosed.

Each of a plurality of cars includes an in-car notification device configured to receive an announcement command from one of the individual car control devices, to thereby execute an announcement of the name of its own car. When an assignment command is received from a group management device, each of a plurality of individual car control devices causes the car to perform a door opening operation after causing the car to arrive at a floor on which a user is to ride in the car, and outputs the announcement command when it is determined after the door opening operation is finished that an elapsed period of time since the reception of the assignment command is equal to or longer than a period of time required for the user to arrive at an elevator landing after registering a destination floor call on the landing operation panel.