Abstract: An elevator system including an elevator car mounted in a structure to serve the landings therein, and an opto-electronic position detector for determining when the elevator car is within a predetermined distance from a selected landing. The position detector includes a source of electromagnetic radiation which is pulsed at a predetermined rate, such as a light emitting diode, and a photovoltaic device which provides an output current having a magnitude responsive to the level of the electromagnetic radiation it is subjected to, such as a photo transistor. The source of electromagnetic radiation and photovoltaic device are mounted in a common housing with a beam splitter, such as a half-silvered mirror, and this assembly is preferably mounted on the elevator car. A control device or target is mounted adjacent each landing to be served by the elevator car, with the control device including a retrodirective reflective surface or retroreflector.