A Load Scattering Algorithm for Dynamic Routing of Automated Material Handling Systems

Author

Ng, Alex K S ; Efstathiou, Janet ; Lau, Henry Y K

Author_Institution

Robotics Res. Group, Oxford Univ.

Volume

2

fYear

2006

fDate

3-6 Nov. 2006

Firstpage

1020

Lastpage

1025

Abstract

An agent-based dynamic routing strategy for a generic automated material handling systems (AMHS) is developed. The strategy employs an agent-based paradigm in which the control points of a network of AMHS components are modelled as cooperating node agents. With the inherent features of route discovery a set of shortest and near-shortest path, an average-flow route selection algorithm is developed to scatter the load of an AMHS. Their performance is investigated through a detailed simulation study. The performance of the proposed dynamic routing strategy is benchmarked with the shortest path algorithm. The results of the simulation experiments are presented and their performance compared under a number of performance indices including the hop count, flow and ability to balance network loading

Keywords

graph theory; materials handling; resource allocation; software agents; agent-based dynamic routing; automated material handling system; average-flow route selection algorithm; load scattering algorithm; network load balancing; route discovery; shortest path algorithm; Automatic control; Control systems; Fluid flow measurement; Heuristic algorithms; Intelligent systems; Laboratories; Materials handling; Robotics and automation; Routing; Scattering;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Computational Intelligence and Security, 2006 International Conference on

Conference_Location

Guangzhou

Print_ISBN

1-4244-0605-6

Electronic_ISBN

1-4244-0605-6

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/ICCIAS.2006.295418

Filename

4076114