Layout Planning Problem in an Innovative Parcel Sorting System Based on Automated Guided Vehicles

With the development of the global e-commerce industry and the growth of parcel delivery volume, automated parcel sorting systems have attracted more and more attention. The traditional parcel sorting systems mostly use a network of conveyor segments, which is difficult to change the layout once set up and occupies a large area. This paper analyzes a layout problem using autonomous robots for parcel sorting. A newly-designed model is formulated to optimize both system throughput and cost. Furthermore, we have built an M/M/s queueing model to estimate the throughput of the system. Besides, we have designed a global search algorithm to solve the models. Numerical experiments analyze the effects of different system parameters on system throughput, including the length-width ratio, the number and layout of workstations and containers, and the number of automated guided vehicles. The research can provide some management insights for the layout planning of parcel sorting systems in practical applications.