Synchronization effects in the dynamical behavior of elevators

TL;DR

This paper simulates elevator dynamics in buildings, revealing synchronization phenomena and a critical population density that causes elevators to arrive simultaneously, akin to coupled oscillator systems.

Contribution

It introduces a simulation model capturing collective elevator behavior and identifies a critical density for synchronization effects.

Findings

Elevators exhibit synchronization similar to coupled oscillators.

A critical population density triggers synchronous arrivals.

Simulation reproduces jamming effects in large buildings.

Abstract

We simulate the dynamical behavior of M elevators serving N floors of a building in which a Poisson distribution of persons call elevators. Our simulation reproduces the jamming effect typically seen in large buildings when a large number of persons decide to leave the building simultaneously. The collective behavior of the elevators involves characteristics similar to those observed in systems of coupled oscillators. In addition, there is an apparently rule-free critical population density above which elevators start to arrive synchronously at the ground floor.