Rory Smith is a Visiting Professor in Lift Technology at the University of Northampton and a Consultant to Peters Research Ltd. He has over 50 years of lift industry experience and worked for ThyssenKrupp Elevator for the past 25 years in various regions including the Americas, Asia Pacific, and Southern Europe and the Middle East .

He was involved in TK Elevator’s Internet of Things. Rory's areas of special interest are Robotics, Machine Learning, High-Rise Design, Traffic Analysis, Dispatching Algorithms and Ride Quality. Numerous patents have been awarded for his work.

New technologies such as variable frequency drives can greatly improve escalator passenger safety. These technologies and how they work are explained.

Additionally, existing devices and procedures required by the ASME A17.1 code but not required by BS EN 115 that can greatly reduce the frequency of occurrence of entrapments as well as the severity of the harm caused by entrapments are explored.

New technologies that improve escalator passenger safety.

Dr Rory Smith.

University of Northampton, USA.