From left to right: Mr Ng Yuk Kin (Anlev Elex Elevator Limited), Dr Cheng Kei Chun (Avaron Technologies Limited), Ir William AU (EMSD), Ir Dr Curtis Ng (PolyU ME), Mr Tsang Tsz Fung (EMSD)
Ir Dr Curtis NG (Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University) collaborated with Ir William AU (General Legislation Division of Electrical and Mechanical Services Engineering, HKSAR Government) (EMSD), Avaron Technologies Limited and Anlev Elex Elevator Limited to develop a smart mechanism of “Artificial Intelligent Nylon Optical Fibre Sensing Escalator Combs”. The project achieved an outstanding result at the 2021 Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days, winning a Gold Medal. By making use of 3D scanning and printing technology, a conventional escalator metal comb has been transformed into an A.I. monitor using optical fiber sensing and artificial intelligence cloud analysis technology. This real-time detection technology via mobile applications has greatly reduced the occurrence of escalator accidents.
Safe and reliable escalators are essential to maintain efficient accessibility and functional vertical transportation in Hong Kong. Escalators offer tremendous convenience to our society. Breakdowns in escalator operation induce unexpected delays in daily activities and user discomfort. Therefore, ensuing escalator safe operation is of premier concern. According to the statistics of escalator incidents, apart from passenger behaviour, the major factor in most of the cases is the intrusion of small foreign objects such as screws and coins into gaps between combs and step treads, causing collision damages and injuries. The objective of this project is to reduce unnecessary escalator incidents and passenger injuries.
The project started with re-engineering the escalator comb design by 3D scanning technology, then the simulation and adoption of new nylon material by multi-jet fusion (MJF) 3D printing technology to enhance its mechanical properties, especially for its ductility and resilience. The feature of the warning message “Mind the Steps” has been printed on the comb surface to attract public safety awareness. In a pilot test, the excellent resilience nylon combs successfully bounced all 8 screws from the escalator step to the platform. In the test, the intrusion of screws did not cause any failure of the nylon combs.
To summarize, the main advantages of the re-engineered 3D printed nylon combs are:
- less possibility of intrusion or trapping of foreign objects due to redesign for minimizing comb clearance;
- lower risk of high-energy fracture and ejecting of broken metallic pieces because of the use of ductile and compliant MJF 3D-printed nylon; and
- additional freedom (with almost negligible cost) to have tailor-made features (e.g., reduced clearance, different colors, the addition of alert message) due to the MJF 3D printing technology.
The recognition ME achieved is not only a testament to the Department’s research excellence, but also demonstrates the strength of ME in transforming research breakthroughs into real-world solutions.
You may also like
