A study for further exploring the advantages of using multi-load automated guided vehicles. (October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yan, Rundong; Jackson, Lisa; Dunnett, Sarah
• Is Part Of: Journal of manufacturing systems. Volume 57(2020)
• Page Start: 19
• Page End: 30
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Subjects: Logistics -- Scheduling -- Automated guided vehicle -- Petri Net -- Simulation; Manufacturing processes -- Periodicals; Production engineering -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Robots, Industrial -- Periodicals; Production, Technique de la -- Informatique -- Périodiques; Robots industriels -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 670.42
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmsy.2020.08.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0278-6125

Abstract

Highlights: Coloured Petri Net models are developed for simulating automated guided vehicle systems. The operation of automated guided vehicles is simulated using Coloured Petri Nets. The impact of load capacity of multi-load automated guided vehicle is investigated. The optimal load capacity of the multi-load automated guided vehicle is discussed. Abstract: Multi-load Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) has been proposed for a while, but the advantage of its application is still not fully understood today. In order to fill this knowledge gap, a novel integrated model of a multi-load AGV system is developed in this paper by using an advanced form of Petri Nets, namely Coloured Petri Nets (CPNs), to simulate the operation of the AGV system in various scenarios. The study reported in this paper is focused to answer a few key questions, i.e. whether system performance can be continuously improved by increasing the load capacity of the multi-load AGVs; if not, whether there is an optimal load capacity of the multi-load AGV for a particular system; and whether the multi-load AGVs can still work well in a system with flexible loading and unloading points. The research results have shown that the efficiency of the AGV system can be improved by increasing the load capacity at the beginning, but the effectiveness of such an approach will decrease when the load capacity increases above a certain value. In other words, an AGV system may not perform better after using a larger capacity of multi-load AGV and there must be an optimal load capacity of the multi-load AGV for a specific AGV system. In addition, it is found that a system with flexible loading and unloading points can perform better after using a multi-load AGV.