Elevators get smart

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation in Japan developed a technology that combines RFID tags and cameras and makes elevators wait for people. Not the contrary.

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By combining RFID and image processing, they claim that their system could recognize a person and tell if s/he wants to use the lift or is just waking near it, with no intention at all to step inside.

With the technology, the disabled and the elderly may be able to get on an elevator without the trouble of pushing buttons. Also, in an office building, employees could move back to their “home floors” without selecting a floor number everytime. Moreover, tags can be used to prevent unauthorized persons from getting on an elevator.

Some technical challenges still remain. The company plans to commercialize the technology within 5 years.

Via RFID in Japan.