Novel methodology for optimising the design, operation and maintenance of a multi-AGV system. (October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yan, Rundong; Dunnett, S.J.; Jackson, L.M.
• Is Part Of: Reliability engineering & system safety. Volume 178(2018)
• Page Start: 130
• Page End: 139
• Publication Date: 2018-10
• Subjects: Automated guided vehicles -- AGV -- Coloured Petri nets -- Maintenance -- Reliability; Reliability (Engineering) -- Periodicals; System safety -- Periodicals; Industrial safety -- Periodicals; Fiabilité -- Périodiques; Sécurité des systèmes -- Périodiques; Sécurité du travail -- Périodiques; 620.00452
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ress.2018.06.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0951-8320

Abstract

Highlights: The Coloured Petri Net (CPN) simulation models are developed to find the optimal design, operation, and maintenance strategy of a multi-AGV system. The CPN method has been demonstrated valid for conducting performance assessment and route evaluation of multi-AGV systems. In contrast to the conventional CPN, an enhanced CPN was proposed by offering colour property also to the transitions rather than only to the tokens. The CPN method enables the influence of maintenance and the optimal time for periodic maintenance to be evaluated. Abstract: Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) have long been identified as a potential driver to improve system efficiency and lower labour costs in material handling systems. Accordingly, the reliability and availability of AGV systems is crucial to assure the stability and efficiency of these systems. However, the reliability issues and maintenance strategies of AGVs have not previously been studied sufficiently. This is even more marked in the case of multi-AGV systems that consist of fleets of AGVs. To fill this knowledge gap, research is conducted considering a multi-AGV system, consisting of three AGVs, in order to develop a scientific methodology for optimising the layout design, operation and maintenance of a multi-AGV system. Once an AGV is failed, it will be towed to the maintenance site for repair by a recycle vehicle to prevent deadlock and conflict. The efficiency of the recycling process of failed AGVs in a multi-AGV system, with respect to the change of location of the maintenance site, is analysed by the approach of coloured Petri nets (CPNs). A CPN model simulating the corrective and periodic preventive maintenance processes of failed AGVs is also developed in order to investigate the impact of different AGV maintenance strategies on the operation efficiency of the multi-AGV system. The simulation results obtained clearly show that the location of maintenance sites and maintenance strategies do have significant influence on the performance of a multi-AGV system, where corrective maintenance is an effective measure to maintain the long-term reliability and stability of the system.