Robot-enabled execution system for perishables auction logistics

Xiang T.R Kong,Gangyan Xu,George Q Huang,Ray Y Zhong

doi:10.1108/imds-03-2016-0114

Xiang T.R Kong, Gangyan Xu + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1108/imds-03-2016-0114

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Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose a concept of cloud auction robot (CAR) and its execution platform for transforming perishable food supply chain management. A new paradigm of goods-to-person auction execution model is proposed based on CARs. This paradigm can shift the management of traditional manual working to automated execution with great space and time saving. A scalable CAR-enabled execution system (CARES) is presented to manage logistics workflows, tasks and behavior of CAR-Agents in handling the real-time events and associated data.Design/methodology/approachAn Internet of Things enabled auction environment is designed. The robot is used to pick up and deliver the auction products and commends are given to the robot in real-time. CARES architecture is proposed while integrating three core services from auction workflow management, auction task management, to auction execution control. A system prototype was developed to show its execution through physical emulations and experiments.FindingsThe CARES could well schedule the tasks for each robot to minimize their waiting time. The total execution time is reduced by 33 percent on average. Space utilization for each auction studio is improved by about 50 percent per day.Originality/valueThe CAR-enabled execution model and system is simulated and verified in a ubiquitous auction environment so as to upgrade the perishable food supply chain management into a new level which is automated and real-time. The proposed system is flexible to cope with different auction scenarios, such as different auction mechanisms and processes, with high reconfigurability and scalability.

Highlights

As the increasing attention paid by the modern consumers, food that is fresh, safe, nutritious, and palatable brings new opportunities to the supply chain management which represents the management of the food production, distribution, marketing activities, and recycling (Opara, 2003; Wang et al, 2015)
To address the above challenges, this paper introduces Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled cloud robots for auction execution
As auction markets become increasingly IT-reliant, distributed, and agile-demanding, there are valid reasons and perhaps requirement for auction intermediary to embrace the massive use of cloud robots in a ubiquitous auction environment

Summary

Introduction

As the increasing attention paid by the modern consumers, food that is fresh, safe, nutritious, and palatable brings new opportunities to the supply chain management which represents the management of the food production, distribution, marketing activities, and recycling (Opara, 2003; Wang et al, 2015). The perishable supply chain management (PSCM) plays a critical role in ensuring the demands. Perishable products such as fruit, vegetables, seafood, etc. Auction is widely used for fast trading of perishable products to achieve fair and transparent price, especially for perishable agricultural commodities such as fruits and fresh fish (Kambil and Van Heck, 1998). This trend remains strong in the Netherlands with transactions for 12.4 billion plants and flowers each year (The New York Times, 2014). The concept of auction logistics (AL) is proposed to transform and upgrade the PSCM using advanced technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), robot-enabled processes, and cloud-based services (Huang and Kong, 2013; Zhong et al, 2013; Qiu et al, 2014)

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