Optimal path in an intelligent AGV-based manufacturing system

Abstract

This paper concerns with the design of a computer-integrated manufacturing system to identify an optimal path in an automated guided vehicle (AGV) routing problem network, special case for vehicle routing problem (VRP) considering triple criteria of time, cost, and capability. In most VRPs, just one criterion, either time or cost was considered in decision making. But in this paper all time, cost, and AGV capability are noticed in decision making, simultaneously. Recently, AGVs are being applied in material handling process that travels on a network of guide paths. To satisfy a material requirement planning (MRP) by providing the bill of material (BOM), AGVs are suitable devices. In this paper, an AGV is employed to carry the parts based on the BOM, therefore, the AGV is confronted with various paths in the shop network in a job shop layout. For controlling the time, cost, and AGV capability, intelligent agents (IAs) are proposed. To decide about selection of the optimal path, which is confined in time, cost, and AGV capability, mathematical programming approach is applied. The aims of conflict-free and deadlock resolution are also effective in the proposed decision making. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is validated using two illustrative examples.