Dr Rory Smith
Position
Consultant
Qualifications
University of Northampton
Engineering Doctorate for research in Vertical Transportation
University College Northampton
MSc in Lift Engineering
University of Phoenix
BSc in Business Administration
EUR ING European Engineer
Chartered Engineer
Fellow, Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers
California Contractors License,
C 11 Elevator Installation
C 10 Electrical (General)
Career Overview
Rory Smith is a consultant to Peters Research Ltd. He has over 49 years experience in all aspects of the lift industry including, engineering, maintenance and research and development. He worked for ThyssenKrupp Elevator for 25 years in various roles and was involved in ThyssenKrupp’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.
He is a Visiting Professor in Lift Technology at the University of Northampton and has been awarded Fellowship of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers.
Professional Experience
2019 – present
- Consultant to Peters Research
2013 – 2019
- Director of Strategic Development, Americas. Responsible for ThyssenKrupp’s Internet of Things, a joint project with Microsoft
2009 to 2013
- Operations Director, ThyssenKrupp Elevator, Middle East. Responsible for Installations, Maintenance and Modernizations.
1999 to 2009
- Vice President, Product Planning, ThyssenKrupp Elevator, North America Responsible for R&D product planning. Manage scientists, engineers and technicians
1994 to 1999
General Manager, Computerized Elevator Corporation, New York. Responsible for operation of an Elevator Control System manufacturing company with 24 Million USD turnover per year. Major Projects included:
- World Trade Center Modernization, New York
- Olympic Stadium, Sydney
- HSBC, London
- Federal Reserve Bank, Boston
1975 to 1994
Director of Manufacturing and Engineering, Amtech Elevator, North America
Held various positions of increasing responsibility including sales management, construction management, and service management.
In last position, responsible for manufacturing and engineering for a 100 Million USD turnover per year corporation. Manufacturing facility located in Baja California, Mexico.
1969 to 1975
District Manager, US Elevator, San Diego.
Responsible for branch operations including, installations, service and repair.
1969
- Sales Engineer Trainee, Westinghouse Elevator Corporation, Los Angeles. Sales Engineer Trainee
Other Roles and Responsibilities
2014 to present
Visiting Professor, Northampton University School of Science and Technology
2013 to 2014
Visiting Research Fellow, Northampton University School of Science and Technology
Awards
The Carter Bronze Medal awarded by The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) for the paper “The Appraisal of Lift Passenger Demand in Modern Office Buildings”. October 12, 2012. Co-authors: Dr Richard Peters & Elizabeth Evans.
Publications
Journal Papers
Peters R, Smith R, Evans E The Appraisal of Lift Passenger Demand in Modern Office Buildings Building Services Engineering Research and Technology Volume 32 No 2, May 2011
Smith R The Divine Algorithm Elevator World, February, 2003
Conference Papers
Smith R Understanding GB/T 24476 – 2017 China’s Technical Specifications for Internet of Things for Lifts, Escalators and Moving Walks proceedings of the 10th Symposium on Lift & Escalator Technology (CIBSE Lifts Group, The University of Northampton and LEIA) (2019)
Smith R Robots, Non-human Passengers proceedings of the 9th Symposium on Lift & Escalator Technology (CIBSE Lifts Group, The University of Northampton and LEIA) (2018)
Smith R Understanding EN 81-77: 2013 & prEN 81-77: 2017 Lifts Subject to Seismic Conditions proceedings of the 7th Symposium on Lift & Escalator Technology (CIBSE Lifts Group, The University of Northampton and LEIA) (2017)
Smith R The Role of Economic Factors in Traffic Planning and Selection of Lift Equipment proceedings of the 6th Symposium on Lift & Escalator Technology (CIBSE Lifts Group, The University of Northampton and LEIA) (2016)
Smith R The Internet of Things, Big Data, Machine Learning, and the Lift & Escalator Industry proceedings of the 5th Symposium on Lift & Escalator Technology (CIBSE Lifts Group, The University of Northampton and LEIA) (2015)
Smith R Under Lifted Buildings in the Middle East proceedings of the 4th Symposium on Lift & Escalator Technology (CIBSE Lifts Group, The University of Northampton and LEIA) (2014)
Smith R Cabin Ventilation, Code Requirements and Experimental Results proceedings of the 3rd Symposium on Lift & Escalator Technology (CIBSE Lifts Group, The University of Northampton and LEIA) (2013)
Smith R Gerstenmeyer S A Review of Waiting Time, Journey Time and Quality of Service proceedings of the 3rd Symposium on Lift & Escalator Technology (CIBSE Lifts Group, The University of Northampton and LEIA) (2013)
Smith R Traffic Analysis based on the Up Peak Round Trip Time method. Why it works and how it can be improved proceedings of the 2nd Symposium on Lift & Escalator Technology (CIBSE Lifts Group, The University of Northampton and LEIA) (2012)
Smith R Designing Elevator Installations using Modern Estimates of Passenger Demand Proceedings of the International Conference on Elevator Technolgies, ELEVCON, Luzern, June 2010
Smith R Using Simulation for Lift System Design Proceedings of the International Conference on Elevator Technologies, ELEVCON, Athens, June 2008
Peters R, Smith R Analysis of Elevator Performance and Passenger Demand with Destination Control Proceedings of the International Conference on Elevator Technologies, ELEVCON, Athens. June 2008
Smith R Achieving Good Lift Ride Quality Symposium on Mechanics of Slender Structures (MOSS). Northampton, UK. September, 2006.
Powell B, Smith R Application of Two Elevators in the Same Hoistway Proceedings of the International Conference on Elevator Technologies, ELEVCON, Helsinki, Finland, June 2006.
Al-Sharif L, Peters R, Smith R Elevator Energy Simulation Model Proceedings of the International Conference on Elevator Technologies, ELEVCON, Istanbul, April 2004
Peters R, Smith R Enhancements to the ETD Dispatcher Proceedings of the International Conference on Elevator Technologies, ELEVCON, Istanbul, April 2004
Smith R Desarollo de un Siestema de Traction Utilizando Cable de Aramid Proceedings of the International Conference on Elevator Technologies (Spanish speaking Unit), Barcelona, 2003
Peters R, Smith R ETD Destination Dispatch and Booster Options Proceedings of the International conference on Elevator Technologies, ELEVCON, Milan, June 2002 Reprinted in Elevator World, June 2002
Presentations
Traffic Analysis Based on the Up Peak Round Trip Time Method, Why it Works and How it Can be Improved 2nd Symposium on Lift and Escalator Technologies. University of Northampton. Northampton, UK. September, 2012.
Designing Elevator Installations Using Modern Estimates of Passenger Demand and Currently Available Elevator Technologies Symposium on Lift and Escalator Technologies. University of Northampton. Northampton, UK. September, 2011.
The Evolution of Elevator Rope Test Apparatus Symposium on Mechanics Of Slender Structures (MOSS). University of Maryland, Baltimore, USA. July, 2008.
Trafico de Ascensores. Nueva Methodologia para Diseno de Sistemas de Ascensores Proceedings of the International Conference on Elevator Technologies (Spanish speaking unit), Barcelona, 2007
Using Simulation for Lift System Design CIBSE Lifts Group Open Forum. London, UK. May, 2007.
What Does the Future Hold? National Association of Elevator Contractors, Annual Convention, Atlantic City, USA. September, 2007.
Workshop: Elevator Traffic Design and Analysis Symposium on Mechanics Of Slender Structures (MOSS). Northampton, UK. September, 2006.
TWIN A Revolution in Elevator Construction Institution of Electrical Engineers, Seminar on Intelligent Environments, University of Essex, UK. June 2005.
Elevator Suspension Ropes Constructed of Aramid Fibers Institution of Physics Stress & Vibration Group. University College Northampton, Northampton, UK. September, 2004.
New Technologies for Elevators National Association of Elevator Safety Authorities, Annual Meeting. San Diego, 2003.
New Technologies for Elevators National Association of Elevator Safety Authorities, Regional Meeting. Orlando, 2002.
Machine Room-less Elevators National Association of Vertical Transportation Professionals, Annual Meeting. Atlanta 2001.
Elevators in the New Millennium National Association of Vertical Transportation Professionals, Annual Meeting. New York 2000.
Patents
Smith R US 10,005,641 Elevator Dampener and Energy Harvesting Device and Method. (June, 2018)
Smith R et al US 9,896,306 Apparatus and Method for Dampening oscillations of an Elevator Car. (February 2018)
Kaczmarczyk S, Smith R US 9,868,614 Elevator System. January, 2018.
Smith R et al US 9,114,954 Active Guiding and Balance System for an Elevator (August, 2015)
Smith R et al US 8,733,507 Multicar Zoned Elevator System (May, 2014).
Kaczmarczyk S, Smith R US 8,617,325 Actively Damped Tension Member. (December, 2013)
Peters R, Smith R US 8,534,426 Control for Limiting Elevator Passenger Tympanic Pressure and Method for the Same. (September, 2013).
Smith R et al US 8,397,873 Zoned Elevator System. (March, 2013).
Peters R, Smith R US 8,276,715 Method of Assigning Hall Calls based on Time Thresholds. (October, 2012).
Parker A, Phan C, Smith R US 8,162,110 Rope Tension Equalizer and Load Monitor. (April, 2012).
Smith R et al US 8,123,002 Elevator Rope Positioning Apparatus. (February, 2012).
Kaczmarczyk S, Smith R US 8,110,050 Actively Damped Tension Member. (February, 2012).
Peters R, Smith R US 8,104,585 Method of Assigning Hall Calls based on Time Thresholds. (January, 2012).
Smith R et al US 8,100,230 Elevator System with Virtual Landing. (January, 2012).
Parker A, Phan C, Smith R US 8,096,024. Rope Termination Device. (January, 2012).
Peters R, Smith R US 7,975,808 Saturation Control for Destination Dispatch Systems. (July, 2011).
Kaczmarczyk S, Smith R US 8,110,050 Actively Damped Tension Member. (February, 2012).
Peters R, Smith R US 8,104,585 Method of Assigning Hall Calls based on Time Thresholds. (January, 2012).
Smith R et al US 8,100,230 Elevator System with Virtual Landing. (January, 2012).
Parker A, Phan C, Smith R US 8,096,024. Rope Termination Device. (January, 2012).
Peters R, Smith R US 7,975,808 Saturation Control for Destination Dispatch Systems. (July, 2011).
Al-Sharif L, Peters R, Smith R US 7,967,113 Elevator System to minimize entrapment of Passengers During Power Failure. (June, 2011).
Smith R, Huff R, Peters R, Powell Bruce, Thumm Twin Elevator Systems US 7,841,450 (Nov 2010)
Al-Sharif L, Peters R, Smith R US 7,540,356 Method and Apparatus to prevent the Entrapment of Passengers in an Elevator During a Power Failure. (June 2009).
Smith R, Peters R D, Al-Sharif L Energy Efficient Elevator System 2008/007374020 B2 (May 2008)
Smith R et al US 7,334,665 Interlock Wiring Communication System for Elevator Systems. (February, 2008).
Nguyen H, Smith R US 7,246,686 Power Supply for Elevator Systems Having Variable Speed Drives. (July, 2007).
Peters R, Smith R US 7,032,715 Method and Apparatus for assigning elevator Calls to Minimize Energy Use. (April, 2006).
Smith R et al US 7,334,665 Interlock Wiring Communication System for Elevator Systems. (February, 2008).
Peters R, Smith R US 7,011,184 Increasing Traffic Handling Performance of an Elevator System Based on Load. (March 2006).
Nickerson J, Palazzola M, Parrish R, Smith R, Sweet R US 6,923,065 Apparatus for Testing Aramid Fiber Elevator Cables. (August, 2005).
Smith R US 6,668,980. Elevator Car Isolation System and Method. (December, 2003).
Smith R US 6,662,660. Apparatus for Testing Aramid Fiber Elevator Cables. (December, 2003).
Peters R, Smith R US 6,619,434. Method and Apparatus for Increasing the Traffic Handling Performance of an Elevator System. (September, 2003).
Smith R US 6,439,349. Method and Apparatus for Assigning New Hall Calls to One of a plurality of Elevators. (August, 2002).