Elevators get smart
Harry Chen, 1:24pm 31 December 2004“Mitsubishi Electric Corporation developed a technology that combines RFID tags and cameras for controlling elevators. With their technology, elevators don’t make people wait for them. Instead, they wait for people.
By combining RFID and image processing, they claim that their system could tell if a person wanted to use an elevator or was just walking near an elevator (without any intention to use an elevator.)”
The smart elevator idea sounds great. But I think some research chanllenges remain. For example, how to accurately detect and determine the intetion of users? If a person is pacing back and forth in front of an elevator, should the elevator believe that the person intends to use the elevator?
How about security? Assume that the elevator allows any person with a valid RFID to ride to the restricted floors. Without other means to verify the identity of the person, will the elevator allow an unauthorized person to ride the restricted floors if the person possess a valid RFID?

