Patent Publication Number: US-2021188594-A1

Title: Control for shuttle elevator groups

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/951,510, filed Dec. 20, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to the field of elevator systems, and specifically to a method and apparatus for operating a shuttle elevator group. 
     Shuttle elevator groups may consist of one or more elevator systems that are used to shuttle people between a lobby (e.g., ground floor) and a sky lobby (e.g., observation deck). 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     According to an embodiment, a method of operating a shuttle elevator group is provided. The method including: detecting an arrival of an elevator car at a landing; determining a time since a previous elevator car departed the landing; determining a fullness percentage of the elevator car; determining an estimated time until a next elevator car arrives at the landing; and determining when the elevator car departs the landing based upon at least one of the fullness percentage of the elevator car, the time since the previous elevator car departed the landing, and the estimated time until the next elevator car arrives at the landing. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include: detecting a number of passengers within the elevator car, wherein the fullness percentage of the elevator car is determined in response to the number of passengers within the elevator car. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include: commanding the elevator car to the depart the landing when the fullness percentage of the elevator car is greater than a selected fullness percentage. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include: commanding the elevator car to the depart the landing when the time since the previous elevator car departed the landing is greater than a selected period of time. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include: commanding the elevator car to the depart the landing when the estimated time until the next elevator car arrives at the landing is less than a selected period of time. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include: commanding the elevator car to the depart the landing when the fullness percentage of the elevator car is greater than a selected fullness percentage; commanding the elevator car to the depart the landing when the time since the previous elevator car departed the landing is greater than a selected period of time; and commanding the elevator car to the depart the landing when the estimated time until the next elevator car arrives at the landing is less than a selected period of time. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include: obtaining a layout of a physical location of two or more elevator systems within an elevator lobby at the landing, each of the two or more elevator systems including an elevator car; and coordinating arrival of the elevator car of each of the two or more elevator systems at the landing in response to the physical location of the two or more elevator systems within the elevator lobby, wherein the two or more elevator systems are organized in an arrangement within the elevator lobby. 
     According to another embodiment, a method of operating a shuttle elevator group is provided. The method including: obtaining a layout of a physical location of two or more elevator systems within an elevator lobby at a landing, each of the two or more elevator systems including an elevator car; and coordinating arrival of the elevator car of each of the two or more elevator systems at the landing in response to the physical location of the two or more elevator systems within the elevator lobby, wherein the two or more elevator systems are organized in an arrangement within the elevator lobby. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include: coordinating arrival of the elevator car of each of the two or more elevator systems such that elevator car arrives from each of the two or more elevator systems in a clockwise order around the arrangement. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include: coordinating arrival of the elevator car of each of the two or more elevator systems such that elevator car arrives from each of the two or more elevator systems in a counter clockwise order around the arrangement. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include: organizing the two or more elevator systems into a first group and a second group within the elevator lobby. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include: deactivating the first group, such that the two or more elevator system organized in the first group are no longer called to the landing. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may that the first group is located on first side of the elevator lobby and the second group is located on second side of the elevator lobby. 
     According to another embodiment, a computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium is provided. The computer program product including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations including: detecting an arrival of an elevator car at a landing; determining a time since a previous elevator car departed the landing; determining a fullness percentage of the elevator car in response to the number of passengers within the elevator car; determining an estimated time until a next elevator car arrives at the landing; and determining when the elevator car departs the landing based upon at least one of the fullness percentage of the elevator car, the time since the previous elevator car departed the landing, and the estimated time until the next elevator car arrives at the landing. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the operations further include: detecting a number of passengers within the elevator car, wherein the fullness percentage of the elevator car is determined in response to the number of passengers within the elevator car 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the operations further include: commanding the elevator car to the depart the landing when the fullness percentage of the elevator car is greater than a selected fullness percentage. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the operations further include: commanding the elevator car to the depart the landing when the time since the previous elevator car departed the landing is greater than a selected period of time. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the operations further include: commanding the elevator car to the depart the landing when the estimated time until the next elevator car arrives at the landing is less than a selected period of time. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the operations further include: commanding the elevator car to the depart the landing when the fullness percentage of the elevator car is greater than a selected fullness percentage; commanding the elevator car to the depart the landing when the time since the previous elevator car departed the landing is greater than a selected period of time; and commanding the elevator car to the depart the landing when the estimated time until the next elevator car arrives at the landing is less than a selected period of time. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the operations further include: obtaining a layout of a physical location of two or more elevator systems within an elevator lobby at the landing, each of the two or more elevator systems including an elevator car; and coordinating arrival of the elevator car of each of the two or more elevator systems at the landing in response to the physical location of the two or more elevator systems within the elevator lobby, wherein the two or more elevator systems are organized in an arrangement within the elevator lobby. 
     Technical effects of embodiments of the present disclosure include operating a shuttle elevator group to alleviate bunching by monitoring both a fullness percentage of elevator cars and a time spend at a landing. 
     The foregoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated otherwise. These features and elements as well as the operation thereof will become more apparent in light of the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following description and drawings are intended to be illustrative and explanatory in nature and non-limiting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not limited in the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of an elevator system that may employ various embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a time versus landing operation chart of a shuttle elevator group demonstrating bunching, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a time versus landing operation chart of a shuttle elevator group not demonstrating bunching, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure; and 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a schematic view of a building elevator system for use with the elevator system of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart of method operating a shuttle elevator group, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates different scenarios  602 ,  604  that may prompt the release of an elevator car from the landing, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart of method operating a shuttle elevator group, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an uncoordinated system where the arrival from the elevator car of multiple elevator systems at the landing is uncoordinated; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an coordinated system where the arrival from the elevator car of multiple elevator systems at the landing is coordinated, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure; and 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a display device of a coordinated system where the arrival from the elevator car of multiple elevator systems at the landing is coordinated and the next elevator car is displayed on the display device, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an elevator system  101  including an elevator car  103 , a counterweight  105 , a tension member  107 , a guide rail  109 , a machine  111 , a position reference system  113 , and a controller  115 . The elevator car  103  and counterweight  105  are connected to each other by the tension member  107 . The tension member  107  may include or be configured as, for example, ropes, steel cables, and/or coated-steel belts. The counterweight  105  is configured to balance a load of the elevator car  103  and is configured to facilitate movement of the elevator car  103  concurrently and in an opposite direction with respect to the counterweight  105  within an elevator shaft  117  and along the guide rail  109 . 
     The tension member  107  engages the machine  111 , which is part of an overhead structure of the elevator system  101 . The machine  111  is configured to control movement between the elevator car  103  and the counterweight  105 . The position reference system  113  may be mounted on a fixed part at the top of the elevator shaft  117 , such as on a support or guide rail, and may be configured to provide position signals related to a position of the elevator car  103  within the elevator shaft  117 . In other embodiments, the position reference system  113  may be directly mounted to a moving component of the machine  111 , or may be located in other positions and/or configurations as known in the art. The position reference system  113  can be any device or mechanism for monitoring a position of an elevator car and/or counter weight, as known in the art. For example, without limitation, the position reference system  113  can be an encoder, sensor, or other system and can include velocity sensing, absolute position sensing, etc., as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art. 
     The controller  115  is located, as shown, in a controller room  121  of the elevator shaft  117  and is configured to control the operation of the elevator system  101 , and particularly the elevator car  103 . For example, the controller  115  may provide drive signals to the machine  111  to control the acceleration, deceleration, leveling, stopping, etc. of the elevator car  103 . The controller  115  may also be configured to receive position signals from the position reference system  113  or any other desired position reference device. When moving up or down within the elevator shaft  117  along guide rail  109 , the elevator car  103  may stop at one or more landings  125  as controlled by the controller  115 . Although shown in a controller room  121 , those of skill in the art will appreciate that the controller  115  can be located and/or configured in other locations or positions within the elevator system  101 . In one embodiment, the controller may be located remotely or in the cloud. 
     The machine  111  may include a motor or similar driving mechanism. In accordance with embodiments of the disclosure, the machine  111  is configured to include an electrically driven motor. The power supply for the motor may be any power source, including a power grid, which, in combination with other components, is supplied to the motor. The machine  111  may include a traction sheave that imparts force to tension member  107  to move the elevator car  103  within elevator shaft  117 . 
     Although shown and described with a roping system including tension member  107 , elevator systems that employ other methods and mechanisms of moving an elevator car within an elevator shaft may employ embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, embodiments may be employed in ropeless elevator systems using a linear motor to impart motion to an elevator car. Embodiments may also be employed in ropeless elevator systems using a hydraulic lift to impart motion to an elevator car.  FIG. 1  is merely a non-limiting example presented for illustrative and explanatory purposes. 
     In other embodiments, the system comprises a conveyance system that moves passengers between floors and/or along a single floor. Such conveyance systems may include escalators, people movers, etc. Accordingly, embodiments described herein are not limited to elevator systems, such as that shown in  FIG. 1 . In one example, embodiments disclosed herein may be applicable conveyance systems such as an elevator system  101  and a conveyance apparatus of the conveyance system such as an elevator car  103  of the elevator system  101 . In another example, embodiments disclosed herein may be applicable conveyance systems such as an escalator system and a conveyance apparatus of the conveyance system such as a moving stair of the escalator system. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3  with continued reference to  FIG. 1 , which both illustrate a time  211  versus landing  125  operation chart  200   a ,  200   b  of a shuttle elevator group  112  that comprises a plurality of elevator cars  103   a - 103   g . Each of the plurality of elevator cars  103   a - 103   g  shuttle people (i.e., passengers) between a primary landing  125   a  and a secondary landing  125   b . The primary landing  125   a  may be a ground floor or sky lobby where passengers may board one of the plurality of elevator cars  103   a - 103   g  to be transported to the secondary landing  125   b . The secondary landing  125   b  may be an sky lobby where passengers transfer to another elevator car  103  or the secondary landing  125  may be an observation deck. The plurality of elevator cars  103   a - 103   g  comprises a first elevator car  103   a , a second elevator car  103   b , a third elevator car  103   c , a fourth elevator car  103   d , a fifth elevator car  103   e , a sixth elevator car  103   f , and a seventh elevator car  103   g . It is understood while the plurality of elevator cars  103   a - 103   g  disclosed in  FIGS. 2 and 3  comprise seven elevator cars  103 , the embodiments disclosed herein may be applicable to any shuttle elevator group comprising two or more elevator cars  103 . 
     Currently, the same dispatching algorithm is typically used in all types of shuttle elevator groups, whether the shuttle elevator group is a standard “local service” elevator group (e.g., serving many landings  125 ) or a shuttle elevator group  112  serving two landings  125 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 .  FIG. 2  illustrates a problem unique to the shuttle elevator group  112 , which is referred to as bunching. Bunching occurs when elevator cars  103  “bunch up” and begin travelling close together in time in bunches  250 . There may be a multitude of reasons for bunching, one reason may include that one elevator car is waiting too long at a landing  125  to fill up with passengers, which may then back up the next elevators cars. Once bunches  250  begin to form they tend to propagate forward in time. The bunch  250  illustrated in  FIG. 2  is composed of the fifth elevator car  103   e , the fourth elevator car  103   d , the second elevator car  103   b , the seventh elevator car  103   g , and the sixth elevator car  103   f.    
     Bunching may lead to several elevator cars  103  arriving very close together or nearly at the same time to landings  125 , which may result in long wait times for passengers who arrive to board an elevator car just after the bunch  250  departs. Advantageously, there is a significant opportunity to improve performance of a shuttle elevator group  112  and prevent bunching by exploiting the predictable pattern of landings  125  served and applying an optimal control method, such as, for example, an optimal stopping rule, as described herein. The embodiments disclosed herein seek to reduce the average wait time for an elevator car  103  in a shuttle elevator group  112  by dynamically controlling the “spacing” between the arrival of consecutive elevator cars  103  at the primary landing  125   a  (or secondary landing  125   b ) to generate uniform time spacing between the arrival of consecutive elevator cars  103 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . This may reduce average wait time by well over 50% by reducing and/or eliminating “bunching”. Additionally, this may also reduce the time to departure and time to destination. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4  with continued reference to  FIGS. 1-3 . The seventh elevator car  103   g  has been removed to simplify the illustration in  FIG. 4 . As seen in  FIG. 2 , a building elevator system  100  within a building  102  may include multiple different individual elevator systems  101   a - 101   f  organized in a shuttle elevator group  112  (e.g., elevator banks). The elevator systems  101   a - 101   f  include a first elevator system  101   a  having an elevator car  103   a , a second elevator system  101   b  having an elevator car  103   b , a third elevator system  101   c  having an elevator car  103   c , a fourth elevator system  101   d  having an elevator car  103   d , a fifth elevator system  101   e  having an elevator car  103   e , and a sixth elevator system  101   f  having an elevator car  103   f . It is understood that while six elevator systems  101   a - 101   f  are utilized for exemplary illustration, embodiments disclosed herein may be applied to building elevator systems  100  having two or more elevator systems  101 . It is also understood that while nine landings  125  are utilized for exemplary illustration, embodiments disclosed herein may be applied to building elevator systems  100  having any number of landings  125 .  FIG. 4  illustrates the primary landing  125   a , the secondary landing  125   b  and all of the intermediate landings  125   c  between the primary landing  125   a  and the secondary landing  125   b . Elevator cars  103   a - 103   f  of the shuttle elevator group  112  typically do not stop at the intermediate landings  125   c  but rather ferry passenger between the primary landing  125   a  and the secondary landing  125   b . It is understood that while the primary landing  125   a  and the secondary landing  125   b  are utilized, the embodiments disclosed herein may also be applicable to elevator system  101  stopping at landings  125   c  between the primary landing  125   a  and the secondary landing  125   b.    
     Further, the elevator systems  101   a - 101   f  illustrated in  FIG. 4  are organized into a single shuttle elevator group  112  for ease of explanation but it is understood that the elevator systems  101   a - 101   f  may be organized into one or more shuttle elevator groups. The shuttle elevator group  112  may contain one or more elevator systems  101 . 
     The primary landing  125   a  and the secondary landing  125   b  in the building  102  of  FIG. 4  may have an elevator call device  89   a ,  89   b . The elevator call device  89   a ,  89   b  sends an elevator call  220  to the dispatcher  210  including the source of the elevator call  220 . The elevator call device  89   a ,  89   b  may include a destination entry option that includes the destination of the elevator call  220 . The elevator call device  89   a ,  89   b  may be a push button and/or a touch screen and may be activated manually or automatically. For example, the elevator call  220  may be sent by an individual entering the elevator call  220  via the elevator call device  89   a ,  89   b . The elevator call device  89   a ,  89   b  may also be activated to send an elevator call  220  by voice recognition or a passenger detection mechanism in the hallway, such as, for example a weight sensing device, a visual recognition device, depth sensing device, radar device, a laser detection device, and/or any other desired device capable of sensing the presence of a passenger. The elevator call device  89   a ,  89   b  may be activated to send an elevator call  220  through an automatic elevator call system that automatically initiates an elevator call  220  when an individual is determined to be moving towards the elevator system in order to call an elevator or when an individual is scheduled to activate the elevator call device  89   a ,  89   b . The elevator call device  89   a ,  89   b  may also be a mobile device configured to transmit an elevator call  220 . The mobile device may be a smart phone, smart watch, laptop, or any other mobile device known to one of skill in the art. It is understood that embodiments disclosed herein may be applicable to elevator systems  101   a - 101   f  that do not utilize an elevator call device  89   a ,  89   b , and therefore the dispatcher  210  may dispatch an elevator car  103   a - 103   f  based upon a schedule rather than an elevator call  220  or the presence of people  320  in an elevator lobby  310 , as detected by a landing people counter device  92   a ,  92   b.    
     The controllers  115   a - 115   f  can be combined, local, remote, cloud, etc. The dispatcher  210  may be local, remote, cloud, etc. The dispatcher  210  is in communication with the controller  115   a - 115   f  of each elevator system  101   a - 101   f . Alternatively, there may be a controller  115  that is common to all of the elevator systems  101   a - 101   f  and controls all of the elevator system  101   a - 101   f . The dispatcher  210  may be a ‘group’ software that is configured to select the best elevator car  103  assigned to the elevator call  220 . The dispatcher  210  manages the elevator call devices  89   a ,  89   b  related to the shuttle elevator group  112 . 
     The dispatcher  210  is configured to control and coordinate operation of multiple elevator systems  101   a - 101   f . The dispatcher  210  may be an electronic controller including a processor and an associated memory comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform various operations. The processor may be, but is not limited to, a single-processor or multi-processor system of any of a wide array of possible architectures, including field programmable gate array (FPGA), central processing unit (CPU), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP) or graphics processing unit (GPU) hardware arranged homogenously or heterogeneously. The memory may be but is not limited to a random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), or other electronic, optical, magnetic or any other computer readable medium. 
     The dispatcher  210  is in communication with each of the elevator call devices  89   a ,  89   b  of the building elevator system  100 . The dispatcher  210  is configured to receive each elevator call  220  transmitted from the elevator call devices  89   a ,  89   b . The dispatcher  210  is configured to manage the elevators calls  220  coming in from each elevator call device  89   a ,  89   b  and command one or more elevator systems  101   a - 101   f  to respond to elevator calls  220 . Alternatively, in the event no elevator call devices  89   a ,  89   b  are present, the dispatcher  210  is configured to dispatch elevator cars  103   a - 103   f  based upon a schedule, how long the elevator car  103   a - 103   f  has been at a landing, and/or detection of people  320  within the elevator lobby  310  rather than an elevator call  220 . 
     Each elevator system  101   a - 101   f  may include an elevator car people counter  141  configured to detect a number passengers (i.e., people) within the elevator car  103   a - 103   f . The elevator car people counter  141  is in communication with the dispatcher  210  and/or the controller  115   a - 115   f . The number of passengers allows the dispatcher  210  to determine how much space is left in the elevator car  103   a - 103   f . The elevator car people counters  141  may use a variety of sensing mechanisms, such as, for example, a visual detection device, a weight detection device, a laser detection device, a door reversal monitoring device, a thermal image detection device, and a depth detection device. The visual detection device may be a camera that utilizes visual recognition to identify individual passengers and objects in the elevator car  103   a - 103   f . The weight detection device may be a scale to sense the amount of weight in an elevator car  103   a - 103   f  and then determine the number of passengers. The laser detection device may detect how many passengers walk through a laser beam to determine the number of passengers in the elevator car  103   a - 103   f . Similarly, a door reversal monitoring device also detects passengers entering the car so as not to close the elevator door on a passenger and thus may be used to determine the number of passengers. The thermal detection device may be an infrared or other heat sensing camera that utilizes detected temperature to identify individual passengers and objects in the elevator car  103   a - 103   f  and then determine the number of passengers. The depth detection device may be a 2-D, 3-D or other depth/distance detecting camera that utilizes detected distance to an object and/or passenger to determine the number of passengers. As may be appreciated by one of skill in the art, in addition to the stated methods, additional methods may exist to sense the number of passengers and one or any combination of these methods may be used to determine the number of passengers in the elevator car  103   a - 103   f . The elevator car people counters  141  may also be able to detect luggage or other objects that may take up space in the elevator car  103   a - 103   f  and differentiate such objects from people. 
     Advantageously, in order to avoid the bunching  250  illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the dispatcher  210  is configured to dispatch elevator cars  103   a - 103   f  based upon at least one of a fullness percentage of an elevator car  103   a - 103   f  based on the number of passenger detected, how much time since a departure of a previous elevator car  103  departure from the landing  125 , and how much time until the next elevator car  103  arrives at the landing  125 . 
     The landing people counter system  90  is configured to detect or determine a people count  94 . The people count  94  may be a number of people  320  located on a landing  125   a ,  125   b  or more specifically a number of people  320  located in an elevator lobby  310  on a landing  125   a ,  125   b . The people count  94  may be an exact number of people  320  or an approximate number of people  320 . The primary landing  125   a  and the secondary landing  125   b  in the building  102  of  FIG. 2  may include a landing people counter device  92   a ,  92   b . The landing people counter device  92   a ,  92   b  may be located proximate the elevator group  112  on the primary landing  125   a  and the secondary landing  125   b . The landing people counter device  92   a ,  92   b  may include a camera. The landing people counter device  92   a ,  92   b  is may be used to determine the people count  94  proximate the elevator systems  101  and/or within an elevator lobby  310  proximate the elevator systems  101 . The elevator lobby  310  may be located on the primary landing  125   a  or the secondary landing  125   b . The people count  94  may include number of people  320  located in the elevator lobby  310 . People  320  being located proximate the elevator system  101  and/or within the elevator lobby  310  is indicative that the people  320  would like to board an elevator car  103  of the elevator system  101  to evacuate the building  102 . 
     The landing people counter device  92   a ,  92   b  may include one or more detection mechanisms in the elevator lobby  310 , such as, for example a weight sensing device, a visual recognition device, depth sensing device, radar device, a laser detection device, mobile device (e.g., cell phone) tracking, and/or any other desired device capable of sensing the presence of people  320 . The visual recognition device may be a camera that utilizes visual recognition to identify individual people  320  and objects in elevator lobby  310 . The weight detection device may be a scale to sense the amount of weight in an elevator lobby  310  and then determine the number of people  320 . The laser detection device may detect how many passengers walk through a laser beam to determine the number of people  310  in the elevator lobby  310 . The thermal detection device may be an infrared or other heat sensing camera that utilizes detected temperature to identify individual people  320  and objects in the elevator lobby  310  and then determine the number of people  320 . The depth detection device may be a 2-D, 3-D or other depth/distance detecting camera that utilizes detected distance to an object and/or people  320  to determine the number of passengers. The mobile device tracking may determine a number of people on a landing  125  or an in elevator lobby  310  by tracking mobile device wireless signals and/or detecting how many mobile devices are utilizing a specific application on the mobile device within the building  102  on the landing  125  or in the elevator lobby  310 . As may be appreciated by one of skill in the art, in addition to the stated methods, additional methods may exist to sense the number of people  320  and one or any combination of these methods may be used to determine the number of people  320  in the elevator lobby  310  or on the landing  125 . 
     In one embodiment, the landing people counter device  92   a ,  92   b  is able to detect the people count  94  through image pixel counting. The people count  94  may compare a current image of the elevator lobby  310  to a stock image of the elevator lobby  310 . For example, the landing people counter device  92   a ,  92   b  may utilize pixel counting by capturing a current image of the elevator lobby  310  and comparing the current image of the elevator lobby  310  to a stock image of the elevator lobby  310  that illustrates the elevator lobby  310  with zero people  320  present or a known number of people  320  present. The number of pixels that are different between the stock image of the elevator lobby  310  and the current image of the elevator lobby  310  may correlate with the people count  94  within the elevator lobby  310 . It is understood that the embodiments disclosed herein are not limited to pixel counting to determine a people count  94  and thus a people count  94  may be determined utilizing other method including but not limited to video analytics software. Video analytics may identify people  300  from stationary objections and count each person separately to determine a total number of people  300 . 
     The people count  94  may be determined using a machine learning, deep learning, and/or artificial intelligence module. The artificial intelligence module can be located in the landing people counter device  92   a ,  92   b  or in a separate module in the elevator lobby  310  or on the landing  125 . The separate module may be able to communicate with the landing people counter device  92   a ,  92   b . The people count  94  may alternatively be expressed as a percentage from zero-to-one-hundred percent indicating what percentage of pixels are different between the stock image of the elevator lobby  310  and the current image of the elevator lobby  310 . The people count  94  of the elevator lobby  310  may be expressed as a scale of one-to-ten (e.g., one being empty and ten being full) indicating what percentage of pixels are different between the stock image of the elevator lobby  310  and the current image of the elevator lobby  310 . The people count  94  may be expressed as an actual or estimated number of people  320 , which may be determined in response to the number of pixels that are different between the stock image of the elevator lobby  310  and the current image of the elevator lobby  310 . 
     Advantageously, the landing people counter system  90  may be used to replace the elevator call devices  89   a ,  89   b . Thus, an elevator call  220  may be transmitted to the dispatcher when the people count  94  is equal to or greater than a selected people count. 
     Additionally, a display device  50   a - 50   f  may be located on the primary landing  125   a  and the secondary landing  125   b  proximate each elevator system  101   a - 101   f . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , each elevator system  101   a - 101   f  may have its own display device  50   a - 50   f  on each of the primary landing  125   a  and the secondary landing  125   b . Alternatively there may be a single displace device  50  for the primary landing  125   a  and a single display device for the secondary landing  125   b  (see  FIG. 10 ). The display device  50   a - 50   f  visually displays if an elevator car  103  will be arriving for the elevator system  101   a - 101   f  associated with the display device  50   a - 50   f . Advantageously, this will allow people  320  to know which elevator system  101   a - 101   f  has an elevator car  103   a - 103   f  arriving next at the landing  125   a ,  125   b . Advantageously, the display devices  50  will allow people  320  waiting in the elevator lobby  310  to know which elevator cars  103   a - 103   f  will arrive soon and thus the people  320  can crowd around the correct elevator system  101   a - 101   f , thus reducing elevator boarding times. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , while referencing components of  FIGS. 1-4 .  FIG. 5  shows a flow chart of method  400  of operating a shuttle elevator group  112 , in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. In an embodiment, the method  400  may be performed by the dispatcher  210  of  FIG. 2 . At block  404 , an arrival of an elevator car  103  at a landing  125  is detected. At block  406 , a time since a previous elevator car  103  departed the landing  125  is determined. At block  410 , a fullness percentage  680  of the elevator car  103  is determined. The fullness percentage  680  determination may be based on a detected number of passengers (i.e., people  320 ) within the elevator car  103  or upon any other analog thereof, such as, for example, detecting occupied space in the car, weight in the car, or any other similar method known to one of skill in the art. At block  412 , an estimated time until a next elevator car  103  arrives at the landing  125  is determined. At block  414 , it is determined when the elevator car  103  departs the landing  125  based upon at least one of the fullness percentage  680  of the elevator car  103 , the time since the previous elevator car  103  departed the landing  125 , and the estimated time until the next elevator car  103  arrives at the landing  125 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates different scenarios  602 ,  604  that may prompt the release of an elevator car  103  from the landing  125 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6  at scenario  602 , the elevator car  103  may be commanded to depart the landing  125  when a number of passengers  320  enter the elevator car  103  and the fullness percentage  680  of the elevator car  103  is greater than a selected fullness percentage  640 . Therefore, the method  400  may also comprise: commanding the elevator car  103  to depart the landing  125  when the fullness percentage  680  of the elevator car  103  is greater than a selected fullness percentage  640 . For example, the selected fullness percentage  640  may be 80%, as shown in  FIG. 6 . It is understood that the selected fullness percentage  40  may be greater than or less than 80% as well. As illustrated in  FIG. 6  at scenario  604 , the elevator car  103  may be commanded to depart the landing  125  when the time since the previous elevator car  103  departed the landing  125  is greater than a selected period of time  660 . For example, the selected period of time  60  may be 30 seconds. It is understood that the selected period of time  60  may be greater than or less than 30 seconds. The method  400  may further comprise: commanding the elevator car  103  to the depart the landing  125  when the time since the previous elevator car  103  departed the landing  125  is greater than a selected period of time  660 . Additionally, the method  400  may yet further comprise: commanding the elevator car  103  to depart the landing  125  when the estimated time until the next elevator car  103  arrives at the landing  125  is less than a selected period of time. For example, this selected period of time may be equal to one minute. It is understood that the selected period of time  60  may be greater than or less than one minute. 
     While the above description has described the flow process of  FIG. 5  in a particular order, it should be appreciated that unless otherwise specifically required in the attached claims that the ordering of the steps may be varied. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 7, 8, 9, and 10 , while referencing components of  FIGS. 1-4 .  FIG. 7  shows a flow chart of method  700  of operating a shuttle elevator group  112 , in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. In an embodiment, the method  700  may be performed by the dispatcher  210  of  FIG. 2 . At block  704 , a layout of a physical location of two or more elevator systems  101  within an elevator lobby  310  at a landing  125  is obtained. Each of the two or more elevator systems  101  include an elevator car  103 . At block  706 , the arrival of the elevator car  103  of each of the two or more elevator systems  101  at the landing  125  is coordinated in response to the physical location of the two or more elevator systems within the elevator lobby  310 . The two or more elevator systems  101  are organized in an arrangement within the elevator lobby  310 . In an embodiment, the two or more elevator systems  101  may be organized in a square arrangement, rectangular arrangement, triangular arrangement, circular arrangement, or any other arrangement within the elevator lobby  310 . The arrangements illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9  are rectangular.  FIG. 8  illustrates an uncoordinated system where the arrival from the elevator car  103  of each of the two or more elevator systems  101  at the landing  125  is uncoordinated, which leaves a passenger guessing as to which elevator car  103  will arrive next. The arrows  800  in  FIG. 8  indicate the order of arrivals of the elevator cars  103  of each elevator system  101 . In the example illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the order of arrival of the elevator cars  103  from each elevator system  101  may be as follows: the first elevator system  101   a , then the second elevator system  101   b , then the third elevator system  101   c , then the fourth elevator system  101   d , then the fifth elevator system  101   e , and then the sixth elevator system  101   f .  FIG. 9  illustrates a coordinated system where the arrival from the elevator car  103  of each of the two or more elevator systems  101  at the landing  125  is coordinated, which leaves a passenger confident knowing which elevator car  103  will arrive next. The arrows  900  in  FIG. 9  indicate the order of arrivals of the elevator cars  103  of each elevator system  101 . 
     In an embodiment, the arrival of the elevator car  103  of each of the two or more elevator systems  101  may be coordinated such that elevator car  103  arrives from each of the two or more elevator systems  101  in a clockwise order around the arrangement, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . The elevator lobby  310  may include one or more display devices  50  that display the direction that the elevator cars of the elevator systems  101  are coordinated to arrive. For example, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the arrival of the elevator car  103  of each of the two or more elevator systems  101  are coordinated such that elevator car  103  arrives from each of the two or more elevator systems  101  in a clockwise order, thus the display device  50  shows the clockwise direction of the elevator car  103  arrival. In another embodiment, the arrival of the elevator car  103  of each of the two or more elevator systems  101  may be coordinated such that elevator car  103  arrives from each of the two or more elevator systems  101  in a counter clockwise order around the arrangement. 
     In an embodiment, the two or more elevator systems  101  may be organized into a first group  610  and a second group  620  within the elevator lobby  310 . The first group  610  may reside along a first wall  612  and the second group  620  may reside along a second wall  614  of the elevator lobby  310 . The first group  610  or the second group  620  may be deactivated to simplify boarding for passengers, so they only have to look at one group. For example, the first group  610  may be deactivated, such that the two or more elevator system organized in the first group  610  are no longer called to the landing  125 . For example, the first elevator group  610  may be deactivated during a low activity period. 
     Alternatively, the first group  610   a  and the second group  620   a  may be separated across the elevator lobby  310 , as shown in  FIG. 9  (i.e., the dividing line running through the lobby  310  from the first wall  612  to the second wall  614 ). The first group  610   a  or the second group  620   a  may be deactivated to simplify boarding for passengers. For example, the first group  610   a  may be deactivated, such that the two or more elevator system organized in the first group are no longer called to the landing. 
     While the above description has described the flow process of  FIG. 7  in a particular order, it should be appreciated that unless otherwise specifically required in the attached claims that the ordering of the steps may be varied. 
     As described above, embodiments can be in the form of processor-implemented processes and devices for practicing those processes, such as processor. Embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code (e.g., computer program product) containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such as network cloud storage, SD cards, flash drives, floppy diskettes, CD ROMs, hard drives, or any other computer-readable storage medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes a device for practicing the embodiments. Embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into an executed by a computer, the computer becomes a device for practicing the embodiments. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits. 
     The term “about” is intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity and/or manufacturing tolerances based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, element components, and/or groups thereof. 
     Those of skill in the art will appreciate that various example embodiments are shown and described herein, each having certain features in the particular embodiments, but the present disclosure is not thus limited. Rather, the present disclosure can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions, combinations, sub-combinations, or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the scope of the present disclosure. Additionally, while various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the present disclosure may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.