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Optimal routing of multiple-load AGV subject to LIFO loading constraints. (English) Zbl 1029.90012

Summary: When simple automated guided vehicles (AGVs) having no random access load transfer mechanism are used for carrying multiple loads between workstations, the loads cannot be handled independently. This paper considers the case when loads are placed in flat pallets and each new picked up pallet is loaded on the top of batch of pallets already carried by the AGV. To avoid use of excessive space and time needed to reorder pallets in the batch, the loading–unloading procedures should be performed in accordance with last-in-first-out (LIFO) rule. We formulate the condition of existence of AGV routes in which each workstation is visited only once and meets LIFO constraint. We also suggest an algorithm for finding the shortest one among such routes. Examples are provided to illustrate the performance of the algorithm.

MSC:

90B10 Deterministic network models in operations research
90B20 Traffic problems in operations research
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