A discrete differential evolution algorithm for cyclic scheduling problem in re-entrant robotic cells

This paper addresses cyclic scheduling in robotic cells with re-entrant workstations which parts visit more than once. We present an analytical model for the problem with a given robot move sequence. Then the problem is transferred to find a robot move sequence to minimize the cycle time. An efficient discrete differential evolution (DDE) algorithm is presented to search a near-optimal robot move sequence. We encode the permutation of the robot moves as the chromosome of the individual and propose a modified mutation and crossover operations to generate the new individual. Our DDE algorithm is tested by a numerical instance.

[1]  Mehmet Fatih Tasgetiren,et al.  A variable iterated greedy algorithm with differential evolution for the no-idle permutation flowshop scheduling problem , 2013, Comput. Oper. Res..

[2]  Joon-Mook Lim,et al.  A genetic algorithm for a single hoist scheduling in the printed-circuit-board electroplating line , 1997 .

[3]  Hua Xu,et al.  Flexible job shop scheduling using hybrid differential evolution algorithms , 2013, Comput. Ind. Eng..

[4]  Chengbin Chu,et al.  Cyclic hoist scheduling in large real-life electroplating lines , 2007, OR Spectr..

[5]  Quan-Ke Pan,et al.  A novel differential evolution algorithm for bi-criteria no-wait flow shop scheduling problems , 2009, Comput. Oper. Res..

[6]  Yun Jiang,et al.  Cyclic scheduling of a single hoist in extended electroplating lines: a comprehensive integer programming solution , 2002 .

[7]  Pengyu Yan,et al.  A branch and bound algorithm for optimal cyclic scheduling in a robotic cell with processing time windows , 2010 .

[8]  Liang Gao,et al.  An effective hybrid discrete differential evolution algorithm for the flow shop scheduling with intermediate buffers , 2011, Inf. Sci..

[9]  Shiji Song,et al.  hybrid differential evolution algorithm for job shop scheduling problems with xpected total tardiness criterion , 2013 .

[10]  Chengbin Chu,et al.  Cyclic scheduling of a hoist with time window constraints , 1998, IEEE Trans. Robotics Autom..

[11]  Pengyu Yan,et al.  Optimal cyclic scheduling of a hoist and multi-type parts with fixed processing times , 2010 .

[12]  Pengyu Yan,et al.  A tabu search algorithm with solution space partition and repairing procedure for cyclic robotic cell scheduling problem , 2012 .

[13]  Zhen Zhou,et al.  Multi-degree cyclic hoist scheduling with time window constraints , 2011 .

[14]  L. Lei,et al.  DETERMINING OPTIMAL CYCLIC HOIST SCHEDULES IN A SINGLE-HOIST ELECTROPLATING LINE , 1994 .

[15]  Feng Chu,et al.  A Petri Net Method for Schedulability and Scheduling Problems in Single-Arm Cluster Tools With Wafer Residency Time Constraints , 2008, IEEE Transactions on Semiconductor Manufacturing.

[16]  Mehmet Fatih Tasgetiren,et al.  A discrete differential evolution algorithm for the permutation flowshop scheduling problem , 2007, GECCO '07.

[17]  Lei Lei,et al.  Optimal Cyclic Scheduling Of A Robotic Processing Line With Two-Product And Time-Window Constraints , 2001 .

[18]  L. W. Phillips,et al.  Mathematical Programming Solution of a Hoist Scheduling Program , 1976 .

[19]  Ponnuthurai N. Suganthan,et al.  A novel hybrid discrete differential evolution algorithm for blocking flow shop scheduling problems , 2010, Comput. Oper. Res..