Imagine you are standing in an elevator, patiently waiting to arrive at your floor. Before you arrive at your destination, the cab slows to a stop to pick up another passenger.
But as the doors slide open, you see it isn’t another person at all. It’s a robot. After a slight pause, the robot rolls in and selects its desired floor. A few seconds of awkward elevator music later, the doors open again and the robot rolls out without a parting word. You are left standing there, a little confused, a little curious, and just the slightest bit unsettled.
How is it possible that a robot can use an elevator? Well, it’s simple now, thanks to thyssenkrupp Elevator North America’s new robotics interface platform.
Previously, there was no way for delivery robots to operate elevators independently. This limited their use in multistory buildings in urban centers.
But thyssenkrupp’s interface facilitates communication between the robot and the elevator, allowing them to call one and make floor selections like a human passenger.
Instead of an R2-D2–like gadget rising from the top of the robot to manually push a button, the interface allows a robot to interact with the elevator wirelessly via Wi-Fi or 4G LTE through thyssenkrupp’s TAC family of controllers. After an elevator arrives, the robot uses Machine Vision to determine if there is enough room to enter or if the cab is full. While the interface is only compatible with the manufacturer’s software and hardware, it can be installed in as little as one day.
See Also: Skanska designs personal protective equipment tailor-made for the female workforce
Thyssenkrupp has partnered with leading robot manufacturers to successfully integrate this technology in several hotel and hospital projects across the country. Robotic elevator interfaces have been used to assist with housekeeping, room and luggage service, security patrolling and concierges, and pharmaceutical and package delivery.
According to thyssenkrupp, incorporating the elevator interface with delivery robots can help building owners manage and improve in-house logistics, increase productivity, and maximize the tenant experience.
This software comes at an opportune time, as the delivery robot market is expected to nearly triple between 2018 and 2024, growing from $11.9 million to $34 million, according to a study by Markets and Markets.
Related Stories
75 Top Building Products | Apr 22, 2024
Enter today! BD+C's 75 Top Building Products for 2024
BD+C editors are now accepting submissions for the annual 75 Top Building Products awards. The winners will be featured in the November/December 2024 issue of Building Design+Construction.
AEC Tech | Feb 20, 2024
AI for construction: What kind of tool can artificial intelligence become for AEC teams?
Avoiding the hype and gathering good data are half the battle toward making artificial intelligence tools useful for performing design, operational, and jobsite tasks.
Sustainability | Nov 1, 2023
Researchers create building air leakage detection system using a camera in real time
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a system that uses a camera to detect air leakage from buildings in real time.
Resiliency | Aug 7, 2023
Creative ways cities are seeking to beat urban heat gain
As temperatures in many areas hit record highs this summer, cities around the world are turning to creative solutions to cope with the heat. Here are several creative ways cities are seeking to beat urban heat gain.
AEC Innovators | Jun 15, 2023
Rogers-O'Brien Construction pilots wearables to reduce heat-related injuries on jobsites
Rogers-O'Brien Construction (RO) has launched a pilot program utilizing SafeGuard, a safety-as-a-service platform for real-time health and safety risk assessment. Non-invasive wearables connected to SafeGuard continuously monitor personnel to prevent heat exhaustion on jobsites, reducing the risk of related injuries. RO is the first general contractor to pilot this program.
Office Buildings | May 15, 2023
Sixteen-story office tower will use 40% less energy than an average NYC office building
This month marks the completion of a new 16-story office tower that is being promoted as New York City’s most sustainable office structure. That boast is backed by an innovative HVAC system that features geothermal wells, dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) units, radiant heating and cooling, and a sophisticated control system to ensure that the elements work optimally together.
Design Innovation Report | Apr 27, 2023
BD+C's 2023 Design Innovation Report
Building Design+Construction’s Design Innovation Report presents projects, spaces, and initiatives—and the AEC professionals behind them—that push the boundaries of building design. This year, we feature four novel projects and one building science innovation.
Design Innovation Report | Apr 19, 2023
Reinforced concrete walls and fins stiffen and shade the National Bank of Kuwait skyscraper
When the National Bank of Kuwait first conceived its new headquarters more than a decade ago, it wanted to make a statement about passive design with a soaring tower that could withstand the extreme heat of Kuwait City, the country’s desert capital.
Design Innovation Report | Apr 19, 2023
HDR uses artificial intelligence tools to help design a vital health clinic in India
Architects from HDR worked pro bono with iKure, a technology-centric healthcare provider, to build a healthcare clinic in rural India.
3D Printing | Apr 11, 2023
University of Michigan’s DART Laboratory unveils Shell Wall—a concrete wall that’s lightweight and freeform 3D printed
The University of Michigan’s DART Laboratory has unveiled a new product called Shell Wall—which the organization describes as the first lightweight, freeform 3D printed and structurally reinforced concrete wall. The innovative product leverages DART Laboratory’s research and development on the use of 3D-printing technology to build structures that require less concrete.