An Energy-Efficient Algorithm For Conflict-Free AGV Routing On A Linear Path Layout

Abstract

Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) systems offer flexibility and automation required by Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMS). Previous research on AGV systems mainly focuses on the performance of the task completion time and the AGV utilization in dispatching and routing. However, as energy shortage and pollution to environment become major concerns and the competition become more intense, the issue of minimizing the energy consumption will unavoidably become an important consideration for the AGV systems. The primary objective of this paper is to provide an energy model for evaluating the energy requirement of the routing algorithms. We present a new linear layout and a routing algorithm. The path layout and the algorithms are analyzed quantitatively for assuring conflict-freedom and the energy efficiency.