(An) optimal design of Bi-directional automated guided vehicle systems(AGVS)

Abstract

Layout design and guide path design are two most important factors in the design of automated guided vehicle systems (AGVS) in manufacturing shop environments. This thesis studies heuristic procedures to determine the locations of pickup & delivery stations of each workcenter and design an optimal bi-directional guide path with the objective of the minimum total travel time of the vehicles. Examples are solved to validate the procedures developed and the results are compared with those by uni-directional guide path design.