An elevator that actually goes sideways
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN links it whenever ThyssenKrupp's Multi or paternoster lifts come up, as the clearest look at the working test tower.
What it is
Tom Scott visits ThyssenKrupp's test tower in Rottweil to see the Multi, a rope-free elevator that uses linear motors to move cabins sideways as well as vertically.
Recommended by 0 HN commenters across 0 different months, 2017 to 2021.
What Hacker News said
Cites netsharc · 2017-08 · on “ThyssenKrupp Multi – world’s first rope-free elevator [video]”
Off-topic, who is the narrator? I think I've heard him on another German "corporate presentation" video, and I can hear a slight German accent... And back on-topic, googling to find the details instead of just a flashy video, here's Tom Scott on MULTI: [this video]
Cites 21 · 2017-08 · on “ThyssenKrupp Multi – world’s first rope-free elevator [video]”
It's explained in another video. Those "tracks" are linear motors, with periodic electro magnetic coils. Looks like it will be crazily expensive. [this video]
Cites lathiat · 2017-08 · on “ThyssenKrupp Multi – world’s first rope-free elevator [video]”
It is actually in production, here's the working test version in a tower they built just for it, by Tom Scott: [this video] And it has it's first production project in the OVG East Side Tower Berlin (though not yet finished building)
Cites lathiat · 2017-08 · on “ThyssenKrupp Multi – world’s first rope-free elevator [video]”
Here's a tour of the system in their test tower by Tom Scott: [this video] And it has it's first production project in the OVG East Side Tower Berlin (though not yet finished building)
Cites apocalyptic0n3 · 2018-02 · on “Google is buying Chelsea Market building for over $2B”
Tom Scott did a video[1] on it last summer. They have a working version in a test tower in Germany, but have not installed it in an actual for-public-use building yet and I'm unsure if testing phases have been completed [1]: [this video]
Cites eliaspro · 2018-11 · on “World′s tallest elevator tower rises in Rottweil, Germany (2015)”
The "new paternoster" is quite a different beast. Tom Scott did a video on it: [this video] I live close to the tower and was really positively surprised how it turned out. Often, an architect's "vision" is far from what it ends up looking, but since this tower got its cladding, it looks spectacular - especially when the sun is low in the early morning or evening hours.
Cites wongarsu · 2021-04 · on “Paternoster Lift”
There is also a Tom Scott video about the test tower for the Thyssen Multi, with some more details [this video] It will be interesting to see how it will be used. You really need someone bold enough to design a building around high capacity, 2d elevators. And if the elevators don't work out you have severe problems using the building ... Selling this has to be an uphill battle until it's proven in a few locations.