Otis is a company that specializes in the design, manufacture, installation, and maintenance of elevators, escalators, moving walkways, and related equipment. The company was founded in 1853 by Elisha Otis and is now a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation. Otis is credited with inventing the safety elevator, which prevents the elevator from falling if the hoisting cable fails. This invention revolutionized the industry and made elevators much safer for passengers.