Automated
or smart elevators make use of artificial intelligence (AI) to enable
vertical transportation of commodities and passengers. Smart
or connected elevators are increasingly being used in buildings
such as hotels, residences, arenas, hospitals, sports facilities,
offices and airports among others. These are designed so as to
minimize overall energy consumption and manage passenger traffic
efficiently within a building. Smart elevators make use of automation
technology and minimize waiting time by efficient traffic management
in commercial, residential and various other buildings. Technologies
incorporated in these units include biometrics, destination access
and dispatching control systems, digital security control system and
touch screen control among others. However, substantial initial costs
of installation for smart elevators limit their use worldwide.
Battery backup, alarm, door interlocks, leveling device, brake system
with speed sensor, evacuation latch and fire and earthquake emergency
return and many more are all a part of the elevator control system.
With the advancement and innovation of technology and changing
building infrastructure these control systems are becoming all the
more versatile in order to securely manage building traffic.
The
deployment of automation to the elevator systems reduces the wait
time, increases efficient management of the traffic in residential,
commercial and institutional buildings. The improvement in management
at these facilities with the incorporation of automated solutions has
driven the elevator automation market. As these elevators are
employed with automated features and consume less power they have
been widely adopted by contractors worldwide. The restriction imposed
by the government on construction projects to reduce operational cost
by introduction of automated facilities within the elevator has
increased the demand for this market. The increased concern for
development and security of the building premises has lead to the
rise in demand for the elevator automation market. Urbanization and
increased expenditure on constructional projects has driven the smart
and connected elevators and elevators control systems market. The
incorporation of latest technologies namely personal occupant
requirement terminal (PORT) and dispatch destination has
substantially increased the demand for this market.
Modernization
of traditional building structures in countries such as UK, the U.S.,
Canada and France has contributed majorly to the growth of smart
elevator market. Moreover, expanding building infrastructure across
developing economies especially in Asia Pacific has escalated need
for comfortable, secure, efficient and quick vertical transportation.
The
numerous companies operating within the market strive to remain
competitive by expansion and innovation of their product line
offering. Companies are working towards enriching the customer
experience through fabrication of smart elevator components which
include doors, interior and entrance. Technologies enabling
functioning of these elevators are of optimum level thus cost of
entire elevator unit is high. All the above factors prove to be a
barrier for the growth of smart elevator market. Technological
breakthrough for the smart elevator market is emergence elevator
control system which provides increased safety, comfort, enhanced
infrastructure and operation control through voice commands, sensors
and more.
Some
of the key players in elevator market include Otis Elevator
Corporation, Bosch Security System, ThyssenKrupp AG, Honeywell
International Inc., Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, KONE
Corporation, Schindler Holding AG, Fujitec and others.