Smart Elevator

info

Author: Lazar Mihai
GitHub Project Link: https://github.com/UPB-PMRust-Students/proiect-mihailazar6

Description

Modern elevators can waste time and energy by stopping at unnecessary floors or responding inefficiently to requests. This project introduces a smarter elevator that processes requests in real time, prioritizing efficient travel and reducing both wait times and energy consumption.

Motivation

I chose this project because it addresses a real-world need for smarter, more efficient building systems. Elevators are critical for accessibility and convenience, and optimizing their operation can have a significant impact on energy use and user experience. This project combines my interest in automation and control with the challenge of creating a practical solution that benefits everyday life.

Architecture

Main Components

🟦 Input Module: Floor Request Buttons

• Function: Simulate user requests for specific floors.
• Details: Each button is wired to a GPIO input on the Raspberry Pi Pico 2W.

🟨 Input Module: MFRC522 RFID Module

• Function: Simulate card-based access.
• Details: The MFRC522 module is connected to the Raspberry Pi Pico 2W via SPI and GPIO.

🟪 Controller Module: Raspberry Pi Pico 2W

• Function: Central brain that processes button inputs, manages the elevator request queue, determines optimal direction, and issues movement commands.
• Features: Real-time scheduling, efficient route planning, and queue management logic.

🟧 Output Module: Stepper Motor & Floor Indicators

• Stepper Motor: Simulates elevator movement between floors, controlled via the A4988 driver.
• LED Indicators: Display the current elevator floor and travel direction.

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🔗 Component Connections

Component	Connection	Purpose
Buttons	GPIO Inputs	Capture floor requests from users
Pico 2W Logic	GPIO Outputs	Control LEDs and stepper motor driver
A4988 Driver	Stepper Motor Pins	Translate Pico signals to motor movement
LEDs	GPIO Outputs	Indicate elevator position & direction
MFRC522	SPI & GPIO	Read RFID cards for priority access

Schematic Overview:

• Buttons → Pico 2W (GPIO Inputs)
• Pico 2W (Logic) → LEDs & A4988 (GPIO Outputs)
• A4988 → Stepper Motor (Controls elevator movement)

Log

Week 5 - 11 May

Week 12 - 18 May

Week 19 - 25 May

Hardware

The hardware components used in this project are:

1. 🟢 Raspberry Pi Pico 2W
   Acts as the main controller, processing all elevator logic.

2. ⬛ Push Buttons
   Simulate floor requests and elevator calls.

3. 💡 LEDs
   Indicate elevator position and movement.

4. 🔗 Breadboard & Jumper Wires
   Facilitate easy prototyping and circuit connections.

5. 🌀 Resistors
   Protect LEDs and ensure reliable button input (pull-down configuration).

6. ⚙️ Stepper Motor
   Physically simulates elevator movement between floors.

7. 🟩 A4988 Stepper Motor Driver
   Precisely controls the stepper motor.

8. 🔌 Power Supply (USB)
   Powers the Raspberry Pi Pico and peripherals.

9. 🔔 Buzzer
   Provides auditory feedback for floor arrivals and events.

10. 🟨 MFRC522 RFID Module
    Simulate card-based access.

These components combine to create an interactive, physical model of a smart elevator system—enabling the practical exploration of efficient control algorithms, real-time feedback, and responsive user interaction.

Schematics

Bill of Materials

Device	Usage	Price
Raspberry Pi Pico 2W	The microcontroller	35 RON
Push Buttons (10 pack)	Floor request and elevator call buttons	5 RON
LEDs (assorted colors, 100 pack)	Floor indicators and movement display	25 RON
Breadboard	Circuit prototyping	15 RON
Jumper Wires (40 pack)	Connecting components	10 RON
Resistors Kit (600 pcs)	LED circuits and button pull-downs	30 RON
USB Cable	Power supply for Raspberry Pi Pico	10 RON
NEMA 17 Stepper Motor	Motor for the elevator	45 RON
A4988 Stepper Motor Driver	Driver for the stepper motor	20 RON
Buzzer (5V, 5mm)	Auditory feedback for floor arrival and other events	5 RON
MFRC522 RFID Module	Card-based access or priority call	10 RON
Total		160 RON

Software

Library	Description	Usage
embassy-executor	Async runtime for embedded systems	Runs async tasks on the microcontroller
embassy-net	Networking stack for embedded systems	Provides networking capabilities (TCP/IP, etc.)
embassy-rp	Hardware abstraction layer for Raspberry Pi Pico	Low-level access to Pico peripherals
embassy-time	Time-related utilities for embedded systems	Async timers, delays, and timeouts
static-cell	Static memory allocation	Enables safe static data storage
defmt-rtt	Logging over RTT (Real-Time Transfer)	Real-time logging for debugging
panic-probe	Panic handler for debug probes	Captures panics for debugging via probe
defmt	Logging framework for embedded systems	Efficient debug output
embedded-hal-bus	Hardware abstraction layer bus implementations	Shared bus abstractions (I2C, SPI, etc.)
mfrc522	Driver for the MFRC522 RFID reader	Controls and interfaces with RFID module