Radar Sensing: Opening a New Era of Escalator Sensing

In modern life, escalators have become an indispensable part of public places such as shopping malls, subway stations, and airports, providing great convenience for people's travel. However, the safety and energy efficiency of escalator operation have always been matters of great concern. Traditional escalator sensors gradually reveal many limitations when dealing with complex environments and diverse needs. The emergence of radar sensing technology is like a ray of light, bringing a brand-new solution to the field of escalator sensing.  

The Dilemma of Traditional Escalator Sensors  

Traditional escalator sensors mainly include types such as infrared diffuse reflection photoelectric sensors and external microwave sensors. Infrared diffuse reflection photoelectric sensors are usually installed below the handrails of escalators, with one installed below each handrail. However, their detection range is small, and there are significant differences in the reflectivity of objects of different colors. When encountering clothing or other items made of highly light-absorbing materials, missed detections are prone to occur. External microwave sensors are generally installed on the ground below the handrails, with a pair of microwave sensors set at a 45° angle. However, since these sensors are placed on the ground, they are highly susceptible to environmental interference, prone to false alarms, and easily damaged intentionally or unintentionally by people. In addition, traditional automatic human body sensing devices for escalators also have issues such as inconvenient installation, high costs, requirements for installation space, damage to the escalator's aesthetics, and the inability to recognize black or complex surfaces, making it difficult to meet the needs of efficient and safe operation of modern escalators.  

Analysis of Radar Sensing Technology  

A radar sensor is a sensor technology that uses radio waves for detection and ranging. Its working principle is based on the transmission and reception of radio frequency (RF) signals. When the transmitted RF signals encounter a target object, they are reflected back. The radar sensor calculates the distance, speed, and方位 (azimuth) information of the target object by receiving and analyzing these reflected signals. In escalator sensing applications, the microwave Doppler principle is often utilized. For example, a transmitting module generates a 24GHz high-frequency signal, which is emitted into the surrounding space through an antenna. When a pedestrian or object approaches, the signal is reflected back. After receiving the reflected signal through the antenna, the receiving module sends a control signal through the signal processing module. Radar sensors have 9 levels of microwave sensitivity, with detection modes including proximity detection, departure detection, and bidirectional detection. The output can be set to normally open or normally closed, and they also feature 6 levels of anti-interference settings, making them almost unaffected by environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, noise, dust, and light.  

The Advantages of Radar Sensing in the Escalator Field  

Exceptional Detection Performance  

Compared with traditional sensors, radar sensors have a larger detection range, capable of fully covering the escalator entrance and surrounding areas, effectively reducing detection blind spots. They can accurately sense objects of different colors and materials, regardless of the surface characteristics of the objects, greatly improving the accuracy and reliability of detection and avoiding potential safety hazards caused by missed detections.  

Convenient Installation and Strong Adaptability  

Radar sensors are compact in size and require no complicated fixing accessories. They only need to be externally installed at the escalator entrance, making the installation process extremely simple without damaging the original structure or appearance of the escalator. At the same time, due to their low requirements for installation space, they can easily adapt to both newly built escalators and the renovation and upgrading of existing ones. In addition, their casings usually have properties such as UV resistance, making them suitable for outdoor and various complex environments and enabling stable operation in different locations.  

Significant Energy-Saving Effects  

In public buildings, escalators are not always in use. By installing radar sensors, escalators can achieve intelligent start-stop control. The escalator only starts running when someone approaches and the radar sensor detects movement; when no one approaches for a period of time, the escalator can switch to low-speed operation or enter standby mode. This intelligent control method effectively avoids idle running of the escalator, greatly reducing energy consumption and conforming to the development philosophy of energy conservation and emission reduction in modern society.  

High Safety Assurance  

Radar sensors can real-time monitor the personnel activities around the escalator. Once abnormal situations are detected, such as people staying at the escalator entrance for too long or suddenly entering dangerous areas, they can immediately issue alarm signals and take corresponding braking measures through the control system to prevent accidents and provide passengers with a safer and more reliable riding environment.  

Practical Application Cases and Prospects  

In some large shopping malls and transportation hubs, radar sensing technology has begun to be gradually applied to escalator sensors. For example, after installing radar sensors in the escalator system of a terminal building at an international airport, the phenomena of false starts and idle running of the escalators significantly decreased. Not only did this save a large amount of electricity annually, but also, due to the improved detection accuracy, no safety accidents caused by sensing issues have occurred since, greatly enhancing the airport's operational efficiency and service quality.  

With the continuous advancement of technology, the application prospects of radar sensing technology in the field of escalator sensing will be broader. In the future, radar sensors are expected to deeply integrate with other intelligent technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and big data analysis, to achieve real-time remote monitoring and intelligent management of escalator operating statuses. By collecting and analyzing large amounts of operational data, the operation mode of escalators can be further optimized, and equipment maintenance efficiency can be improved, providing people with more intelligent, safe, and convenient escalator services.  

With its unique advantages, radar sensing technology is gradually changing the landscape of the escalator sensing field, injecting new vitality into the safe and efficient operation of escalators and becoming an important force driving the development of escalator technology.