Otis and Lenovo said on Nov. 10 that they will develop a robot to automate drilling inside elevator hoistways. The first deployment is planned for Tianjin 117 Tower in China; the announcement describes a plan, not a completed installation.
After the concrete hoistway is poured and set, installers drill holes for elevator guide rails, landing-door openings and door hardware. Otis describes that work as repetitive and physically demanding.
The companies say robotic drilling could reduce installers’ time inside hoistways and limit their exposure to airborne industrial dust; better installation quality and efficiency are also anticipated.
Otis is providing 266 elevators and escalators for the 117-story project. The release gives no robot model, deployment schedule or expected fleet size.
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