Escalator Efficiency Control s1

Escalator Efficiency Control

Engineering Design VI – HW6 Group: James Ray Andrew Hyduchak Michael Murphy Leo Dormann Group Members and Responsibilities  James Ray o Microcontroller Implementation  Andrew Hyduchak o Human-Device Interactions  Michael Murphy o Escalator Power Consumption  Leo Dormann o Hardware Requirements

Overall Model(including customer)

This is the general model of the escalator efficiency control. The blue box represents the customer who is the trigger of the entire process. The customer approaches the escalator and breeches the sensor. The sensor processes this information, as seen in the black box. The sensor relays this signal to either power up the motor as seen by the green box, or to power down as seen by the red box. This is the overall basic function of the device.

Overall Model of the Device Within the Escalator This is the simple model of the device itself. The blue circle represents the sensor and sensor data. The escalator itself is represented by the black box. It encompasses two major components. These are the control which is represented by the green triangle and the motor control which is represented by the orange circle. When the sensor sends a signal, the signal goes to the control IC. Here, the signal is manipulated using a written program and outputted to the motor control. The output lets the motor know how much if any, power to generate.

Electrical Options

There are a number of different approaches that may be taken as far as how the user data is to be relayed to the actual device. The device itself remains constant but the input signal changes based on the method taken.

Option 1(Switch Detector) This option uses an approach pad which is indicated by the red box. As the user approaches the escalator, he compresses and releases the approach pad. Underneath the approach pad, there is a switch that completes the circuit and sends an electric signal to the control. The control is indicated by the yellow box and uses AC current. The control like any of the designs, manipulate the signal with a program and relay this to the motor. The motor is indicated by the brown box. This option is simplistic in design and makes it easier to implement. This also uses less power than the other designs. The downside of this is the fact that it is a physical trigger and is subject to wear due to constant use.

Option 2(Scale detector)

The scale method is slightly more complicated than the simple switch method. Like the switch method, there is an approach pad which is indicated with a red square. The difference with the scale option is the implementation of a scale along with the pad as indicated with the red rectangle under the approach pad. The scale will determine by weight, approximately how many people are approaching at a given time. The scale sends the weight in the form of a signal to the control. The addition to the program within the control is that there will be an algorithm that will divide the weight signal by a certain number which will indicate the amount of people approaching. Like the previous design, the control and mechanical portion are indicated by yellow and brown boxes, and use ac and dc current respectively.

This design has relatively the same pluses and minuses as the switch design . The difference comes with the power level and the coding associated. In order to have an accurate weight measurement, there must be more power supplied to the scale. Also along with this, the program for the control will be slightly more complicated.

Option 3 (Diode Detector)

The final option is the diode detector option. Like the other methods, there is still an approach pad which is indicated by the red box. In this case, the pad is more just an area at which the diodes are concentrated. This is similar to what a home security system. A beam of light or laser is emitted from one diode and received by the other diode. When this beam is broken, a signal is sent to the control which again is indicated by the yellow box. It is then manipulated by the controller and sent to the mechanical portion which is indicated by the brown box. The diodes are indicated by the small grey triangles near the approach pad.

Motor and Control

The major interaction within the device occurs between the motor and the IC control. The manipulated signal is indicated by the arrow entering the brown box on the left hand side of the diagram. This gives the motor, indicated by the black box within, the command of what to do. The motor is powered using DC current shown by the blue circle. The power extracted depends on the signal generated by the control IC. The state of the motor is then relayed back to the control IC. System as a Whole

This groups together all of the previous figures and sums up the entire operation. As a summary there is a human interaction with the sensor represented by the red box. This input goes to the control IC, represented by the yellow box, which gives speed commands to the motor. The motor, represented by the brown box, gives feedback to the control IC which determines the next command.

S.W.O.T Analysis

Strengths-  Easily Implementable in various locations. Escalator will look virtually the same as before after the modification is completed.

 Does not require pathway as in previous designs.

 Obeys US safety law requiring constant escalator speed.

 Microchip does not require much space in order to operate, thus will cause no issues in current location of escalator.  Quickly calculates weight of occupants on escalator, can adjust motor power quickly and easily

Weaknesses-  Requires more expensive motor than regular escalator, due to the frequent change in output power.

 Could motor wear out over time? As we know with many machines (example: cars), many machines experience much more wear and tear due to changing motor power than going at a constant speed.

 Could sensors wear out over time due to people walking over them continually?

 Floor would have to be altered in order for necessary sensors to be installed.

Opportunities-  The ability for the escalator to gain energy from people who walk down escalator. This would cut into power consumption even more and make it much more self- sufficient. This would have to be researched to see if this option is economically feasible/worth it.

 The ability for the escalator to be powered by solar power. Solar panels would have to be situated outside the building and be connected to the escalator. Due to the majority of escalators running mostly during the day, we could use solar power in order to save more energy.

 An ability to set start/stop times for the escalator so it can shut off automatically when a building opens or closes.

Threats-  A possible threat to the project is not having an escalator to test it on. The escalator would have to be modified in order to even test the effectiveness of the escalator efficiency controller, so due to the senior design budget, we will not have the funds to acquire an escalator for use.