An autonomous cooperative system for high speed sorting systems

Abstract

In a high speed sorting system, the ability of the control system to optimally utilize the available resources and to react to changes in a timely manner determines the economic viability of that system. An Autonomous Cooperative System (ACS) for flexible control of high speed sorting systems is presented. Each section of the sorting system is provided with sufficient intelligence and autonomy to flexibly control the operations of the physical equipment. Control is carried out while the overall operation of the system is optimized through cooperation among the controlled sections. The operation of the sorting system is observed during conditions of normal operation and equipment failures. The results show how an ACS can be used to reduce the impact of perturbations in sorting systems.