I chanced upon some contactless sensor buttons at elevators/lifts, most likely installed during the covid pandemic to prevent the transmission of virus and bacteria through contact of various surfaces in common areas.
This piqued my interest, as it is something that has been adopted out of necessity and yet makes so much sense, for a surface that is usually touched by many individuals throughout the day.
A quick search online revealed that there are several kinds of contactless button solutions: static infrared sensors with lights or a buzzer, and sensors with kinetic touches to replicate the actual pushing of the button.
Button with sensor and kinetic touch (STUCK Design Pte Ltd)
HoverTap from NZ Technologies
Benefits of contactless sensor buttons for lifts/elevators include saying goodbye to the incessant hammering of the buttons, because, let's face it: pressing a button faster and repeatedly doesn't make the lift/elevator move faster, as well as a reduced risk of accidentally pressing the alarm and intercom buttons, which may still retain the tactile contact buttons as the frequency of use is expected to be low and to prevent accidental activation via sensor buttons.
There are currently many types of sensors designed in a lift/elevator, mostly to detect obstruction or motion around the lift/elevator doors, so sensors are not an entirely new technology or concept to be deployed.
According to Fact.MR, the global Contactless Elevator Market is valued at around US$1.85 billion in 2022, accounting for approximately 4.5% of the global elevator market. The development of smart infrastructure and refresh of elevators in old skyscrapers are expected to provide an uplift in the demand for contactless lift/elevator.
Probably one key factor keeping the adoption rate of contactless sensor elevators low is the premium one can expect to pay as compared to a 'normal' lift/ elevator, with premiums running anywhere between 50% to 150% of the cost for a standard lift/ elevator model. This is one space to watch, as individual sensors procured at wholesale prices are relatively inexpensive today.
Let me know what you think about contactless sensor buttons!