Artificial intelligence expert SenseTime has entered into a strategic partnership in Shanghai with Swiss elevator leader Schindler to develop an escalator safety intelligent response system.

The pair vowed to use AI to detect and manage prospective safety risks or concerns embedded in elevator systems while ensuring operational efficacy at the same time.

Leveraging multiple AI technologies by SenseTime from object detection and behavioral recognition to density analysis, the system is designed to voice security alarms upon entrances of escalators to those with bulky luggage or wheelchairs, or alert of over-density in a certain space to prevent the occurrence of stampede accidents, the company said in a press release.

Also, when no passenger approaches the escalator zone, the system can inform staff members to halt operations by remote so as to trim operational costs.