Evaluation of AGV routing strategies using hierarchical simulation

To analyze the operation of an arbitrary AGV system under selected vehicle routing strategies, we present a simulation model that can handle multiple system layouts, a varying number of AGVs, and a varying number of pedestrians moving around the system. We introduce a dynamic vehicle routing strategy based on hierarchical simulation that operates as follows: at the time of each routing decision for an AGV in the main simulation, subsimulations are spawned for each of a varying number of alternative routes; and the performance observed in these subsimulations is then used to make the routing decision in the main simulation. A case study illustrates the advantages of this strategy.

[1]  Ralf W. Seifert.  Evaluation of Routing Strategies for AGV's Based on Computer Simulation , 1995 .

[2]  R. Deal.  Simulation Modeling and Analysis (2nd Ed.) , 1994 .

[3]  Averill M. Law,et al.  Simulation Modeling and Analysis , 1982 .

[4]  William L. Maxwell,et al.  Design of Automatic Guided Vehicle Systems , 1982 .

[5]  J. M. A. Tanchoco,et al.  AGVSim2-a development tool for AGVS controller design , 1989 .

[6]  Thom Hodgson,et al.  Developing control rules for an AGV using Markov decision processes , 1985, 1985 24th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control.

[7]  J. M. A. Tanchoco,et al.  A LISP-based controller for free-ranging automated guided vehicle systems , 1988 .

[8]  L. M. M.-T..  Theory of Probability , 1929, Nature.

[9]  J. M. A. Tanchoco,et al.  A review of research on AGVS vehicle management , 1991 .

[10]  Boris Gnedenko,et al.  Theory of Probability , 1963 .

[11]  Yadati Narahari,et al.  Performance modeling of automated manufacturing systems , 1992 .

[12]  Brian W. Kernighan,et al.  The C Programming Language , 1978 .

[13]  J. Tanchoco,et al.  Optimal flow path design of unidirectional AGV systems , 1990 .

[14]  H. Frank,et al.  Shortest Paths in Probabilistic Graphs , 1969, Oper. Res..

[15]  A. Alan B. Pritsker,et al.  Gasp iv simulation language , 1974 .

[16]  Bengt Lennartson,et al.  Performance modeling of automated manufacturing systems , 1995, Autom..

[17]  Ren C. Luo,et al.  Global vision for the control of free-ranging AGV systems , 1993, [1993] Proceedings IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation.

[18]  James J. Solberg,et al.  The Stochastic Shortest Route Problem , 1980, Oper. Res..

[19]  Bjarne Stroustrup,et al.  C++ Programming Language , 1986, IEEE Softw..

[20]  J. M. A. Tanchoco,et al.  Flow path design for automated guided vehicle systems , 1987 .

[21]  Thom J. Hodgson,et al.  Developing Control Rules for an AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles) using Markov Decision Processes. , 1987 .

[22]  A. Alan B. Pritsker.  Introduction to simulation and SLAM II (2nd ed.) , 1984 .

[23]  Bjarne Stroustrup,et al.  The C++ programming language (2nd ed.) , 1991 .

[24]  Hossein Soroush,et al.  Path Preferences and Optimal Paths in Probabilistic Networks , 1985, Transp. Sci..

[25]  Michael George Kay.  GLOBAL VISION FOR THE CONTROL OF FREE-RANGING AUTOMATIC GUIDED VEHICLE SYSTEMS , 1992 .

[26]  A. Alan B. Pritsker,et al.  Introduction to simulation and SLAM II , 1979 .

[27]  Pitu B. Mirchandani,et al.  Shortest distance and reliability of probabilistic networks , 1976, Comput. Oper. Res..