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The Turbolift has been invented

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Not sure about the cost, I have my doubts as to whether this will become mainstream. It seems to me that the use of space is pretty brutal, also one has to question how useful the going sideways function is compared to say a rolling floor, which has a much higher capacity.
 
The huge thing about going sideways is that a single shaft can handle more than one cab. Even if the cab only goes sideways at two floors, say, top and bottom, this is still easily hundreds of times more efficient than today's systems in highrise applications. And with the system shown, it would appear possible to rig horizontal transfer at multiple floors, indeed every single floor if desirable.

Going horizontal for more than three meters is a bonus that might never see much practical application. But hey, if it comes at little extra cost, it's a nice gimmick to have on the side!

Timo Saloniemi
 
The huge thing about going sideways is that a single shaft can handle more than one cab. Even if the cab only goes sideways at two floors, say, top and bottom, this is still easily hundreds of times more efficient than today's systems in highrise applications.

Okay, that I can see. Interestingly, as far as I know, it is still not canon if the Enterprise-D, or even the 1701, has multiple cars stacked behind the bridge. Although episodes that have shown lifts used within seconds of each other would make it appear so. :D

And with the system shown, it would appear possible to rig horizontal transfer at multiple floors, indeed every single floor if desirable. Going horizontal for more than three meters is a bonus that might never see much practical application. But hey, if it comes at little extra cost, it's a nice gimmick to have on the side!

Timo Saloniemi

The "little extra cost" is where I have doubts.
 
There are so many advantages to this system that I can't even begin to list them off.

The basic edge, no freaking cables - no slack and strain to deal with. That allow for a VERY tall elevator shaft. Being able to move sideways allows more than one car to use a given shaft, saving space through the entire height of the structure.

From an architectural viewpoint - it's a massive game changer.

(And no, I didn't RTFA - don't need to - this has been coming for many years.)
 
The horizontal elevator thing I think has more application to shorter, longer buildings. It would save not insignificant time and solve handicap accessibility issues if you could be carried on demand from any part of the building to any other part. Employers would love to conserve the five minutes employees take walking to and from the cafeteria. Not to mention huge sprawled out installations like the Boeing factory.
 
A horizontal shaft is a huge impedement to travel - it splits the floor in two, and the only way to get from one half to the other is to take the lift for a zero-length ride! This is almost as big a disadvantage as the vertical multicab option is an advantage. I'd think architects would try and put all horizontal shafts on the outer wall of the building (where they would still make windows impossible) or, better still, wholly outside the building (much as suggested in the title picture above), but that'd probably involve the designing of intentionally weird buildings rather than improvements to the characteristics of existing ones (again as per the title picture).

Timo Saloniemi
 
You'd either put them on the outside of the building (Hello beautiful views) or you'd only put horizontal shafts on utility floors.
 
The horizontal elevator thing I think has more application to shorter, longer buildings. It would save not insignificant time and solve handicap accessibility issues if you could be carried on demand from any part of the building to any other part. Employers would love to conserve the five minutes employees take walking to and from the cafeteria. Not to mention huge sprawled out installations like the Boeing factory.
Moving sidewalks would be a better answer to those needs. Indeed they see widespread use in airports for just such reasons.
 
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