Simulation model for crane scheduling in workshop of steel-making plant based on MAS

In order to solve the NP-hard problem of crane scheduling, a simulation method of crane scheduling in workshop of steel-making plant is presented based on the multi agent system (MAS). According to the characteristics of crane scheduling, a MAS-based model for simulating crane scheduling in melt shop is built. The scheduling system mainly includes crane agent groups, work station agent groups and coordination management agent. The operation principles can be described as follow. Firstly, the global target is introduced into the system. Secondly, the global target is changed to local targets by the time backward inferring algorithm in the coordination management agent. Then, the target work station is selected by the local targets and rules. Finally, crane agent groups choose suitable crane to finish the transportation tasks. The research works show that the simulation method of crane scheduling in workshop of steel-making plant based on MAS is feasible, and it can depict the basic characteristics of cranes in workshop of steel-making plant efficiently. The method has the extensive applicability to optimize the system of crane scheduling.