A dispatching algorithm for multiple-load AGVS using a fuzzy decision-making method in a job shop environment

Abstract

This paper proposes a dispatching algorithm for automated guided vehicles (AGV) with multiple-load capacity operating in a job shop environment. At each dispatching point, the algorithm prioritizes all move requests based on the fuzzy urgency which is determined by the fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making method. Then, the algorithm selects a set of requests under the restriction of target dispatching time interval. Through simulation, the performance of the proposed algorithm is compared with several dispatching algorithms in terms of system throughput in a hypothetical job shop environment.