Session 7: The Third Dimension of People Transportation

Michael Cesarz
CEO MULTI
thyssenkrupp Elevator, Essen

As of today, urban mobility is rather two-dimensional: Connections between transportation solutions like elevators, escalators, moving walks, metro stations are rather static. Future urban mobility will require a holistic view: Seamless transportation, enabled by innovative IoT technology. A dialogue between the city, its buildings and transportation systems, considering the specific needs and preferences of each and every citizen, must be adapted. Traveling through the city will be a lot more individualized, interactive and customized to specific requirements.

With MULTI, thyssenkrupp Elevator harnessed the power of linear motor technology to move multiple cars in a single shaft, both vertically and horizontally. We re-imagined the elevator by removing the cables and equipping passenger cabins with linear motors. It is an elevator that can open up new options for the transportation of people and architectural design. With skybridges, connections to metro systems, air-taxis etc, MULTI will interact with a variety of transportation systems.

The digitalized interface, a state-of-the-art building facilities management system created by thyssenkrupp Elevator and Australian digital specialist Willow, integrates hundreds of data sources to streamline building performance and efficiency—from maintenance, resource utilization, and energy efficiency, to improving the “user-experience” for building tenants and visitors. Naturally, that includes elevator operations. Interacting with each other, intelligent transportation solutions will become the backbone for smart buildings and the creation of smart cities.