Elevator Riddle – TheFrogSprog

Posted on October 6, 2023 by TheFrogSprog
  1. When either of the directional buttons is pressed, head to the floor as directed by said button.
  2. The direction that was pressed inputs the direction in which the elevator will go.
  3. If the up button is pressed and passengers get off, focus on others calling the elevator up if they are on a higher floor, but focus on those pressing the down button if the elevator is on the highest floor.
  4. The elevator will stop at whatever floor was pressed last, and wait to be called. 
  5. If the elevator approaches a floor while in operation that is being called in the same direction as the pressed number button, then pick up that passenger and drop them off on their desired floor. E.X. If the elevator is heading down towards floor 5 from floor 12 pick up the passenger who pressed the down button on floor 10 and drop them off on the desired floor 9.

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4 Responses to Elevator Riddle – TheFrogSprog

  1. davidbdale's avatar davidbdale says:
    October 12, 2023 at 8:23 am

    I know this is really hard work, FrogSprog, but I have faith in your ability to write logically and clearly. So, let’s take a close look at just one of your instructions, #5.

    If the elevator approaches a floor while in operation that is being called in the same direction as the pressed number button, then pick up that passenger and drop them off on their desired floor. E.X. If the elevator is heading down towards floor 5 from floor 12 pick up the passenger who pressed the down button on floor 10 and drop them off on the desired floor 9.

    —It’s not phrased as an instruction.
    —Better language is needed for “in the same direction as the pressed number button” because the pressed number button is traveling in no direction.
    —Examples are useful only to the human reader of your instructions. The elevator either understands the instruction or it doesn’t.

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  2. davidbdale's avatar davidbdale says:
    November 19, 2023 at 7:57 am

    I like so much of what is going on here, TheFrogSprog. In some cases, you provide INSTRUCTIONS to the elevator. However, in other examples, you’re offering EXAMPLES, which the elevator would not recognize as instructions. Yes, the post is supposed to provide INSTRUCTIONS to the ELEVATOR (who is your reader here.) And Yes, the elevator reads your instructions and follows them.

    The elevator will not extrapolate from examples to create rules for itself. You need to spell out the rules as GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS and identify the EXCEPTIONS to the rules also in general terms.

    Some examples in no particular order:

    —In response to any CALL button, PROCEED to that floor and OPEN the doors.
    —You have three modes: AT REST, GOING UP, GOING DOWN.
    —When you are GOING DOWN, IGNORE any GOING UP requests.

    See what I mean?

    Provisionally graded out of gratitude for your outstanding contribution to the project and your effort. You may still earn a Regrade by transforming your descriptions of elevator operations into INSTRUCTIONS written for the elevator (as if the Elevator were your reader and needed to be told how to operate).

    Reply

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