Abstract
This paper presents SERobWaS, a support environment for a fleet of mobile robots operating in warehousing environments. SERobWaS integrates three subsystems necessary to control the missions of the fleet of robots, namely a task scheduler, a route planner, and a motion planner. Task scheduler is responsible for allocating the required logistics tasks to robots. Route planner determines the necessary routes (paths) to be followed by the robots in order to achieve their (allocated) tasks. Motion planner produces the robots’ collision-free movements on the generated routes. A motion plan specifies the actual motion to be executed by a robot and consists of a generated velocity profile along the path and a set of turning commands to the robot’s wheels. In the algorithmic level, SERobWaS uses a special genetic algorithm (GA) to simultaneously address task planning, route planning, and global motion planning problems. Collisions avoidance between the robots during their motion is further achieved in a second stage by a simple quite fast algorithm. Computer simulations demonstrate the operation of SERobWaS.
Similar content being viewed by others
Change history
11 May 2023
A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-023-11568-x
References
De Koster RBM, Johnson AL, Roy D (2017) Warehouse design and management. Int J Prod Res 55(21):6327–6330
Boysen N, de Koster R, Weidinger F (2018). Warehousing in the e-commerce era: a survey. Eur J Oper Res
Azadeh K, De Koster R, Roy D (2019) Robotized and automated warehouse systems: review and recent developments. Transp Sci 53(4):917–945
Kamali A (2019) Smart warehouse vs. traditional warehouse – review. Autom Auton Syst 11(1):9–16
Lyu Z, Lin P, Guo D, Huang GQ (2020) Towards zero-warehousing smart manufacturing from zero-inventory just-in-time production. Robot Comput-Integr Manuf 64:101932
Van Geest M, Tekinerdogan B, Catal C (2021) Design of a reference architecture for developing smart warehouses in industry 4.0. Comput Ind 124:103343
Chung S-H (2021) Applications of smart technologies in logistics and transport: a review. Transp Res Part E: Logist Transp Rev 153:102455
Amato F, Basile F, Carbone C, Chiacchio P (2005) An approach to control automated warehouse systems. Control Eng Pract 13(10):1223–1241
Gue KR, Kim BS (2007) Puzzle-based storage systems. Nav Res Logist 54(5):556–567
Wang H, Chen S, Xie Y (2010) An RFID-based digital warehouse management system in the tobacco industry: a case study. Int J Prod Res 48(9):2513–2548
Pazour JA, Meller RD (2013) The impact of batch retrievals on throughput performance of a carousel system serviced by a storage and retrieval machine. Int J Prod Econ 142(2):332–342
Basile F, Chiacchio P & Coppola J (2016). A cyber-physical view of automated warehouse systems. 2016 IEEE International Conference on Automation Science and Engineering (CASE)
Buck S, Hanten R, Bohlmann K, Zell A (2016). Generic 3D obstacle detection for AGVs using time-of-flight cameras. 2016 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS)
Basile F, Chiacchio P, Di Marino E (2019) An auction-based approach to control automated warehouses using smart vehicles. Control Eng Pract 90:285–300
Güller M, Hegmanns T (2014) Simulation-based performance analysis of a miniload multishuttle order picking system. Procedia CIRP 17:475–480
Kumawat GL, Roy D (2021) A new solution approach for multi-stage semi-open queuing networks: an application in shuttle-based compact storage systems. Comput Oper Res 125(105086):105086. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cor.2020.105086
Stojanovic V, Nedic N, Prsic D, Dubonjic L, Djordjevic V (2016) Application of cuckoo search algorithm to constrained control problem of a parallel robot platform. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 87(9–12):2497–2507
Pršić D, Nedić N, Stojanović V (2017) A nature inspired optimal control of pneumatic-driven parallel robot platform. Proc Inst Mech Eng Part C: J Mech Eng Sci 231(1):59–71
Wulfraat M (2012). Is Kiva systems a good fit for your distribution center? An unbiased distribution consultant evaluation
Riazi A (2019). Genetic algorithm and a double-chromosome implementation to the traveling salesman problem. SN Appl Sci 1(11). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-019-1469-1
R, WP, R, D. ’andrea & M M. (2008). Coordinating hundreds of cooperative, autonomous vehicles in warehouses. AI Mag AI Magazine 29(1) 3
Adams W (ed) (2015). Nova Science
Goldberg DE (1989) Genetic algorithms in search, optimization and machine learning. Addison Wesley Publishing Company
Noh S, An K (2017) Risk assessment for automatic lane change maneuvers on highways. IEEE Int Conf on Robotics and Automation (ICRA). https://doi.org/10.1109/icra.2017.7989031
Ghiani G, Laporte G, Musmanno R (2007) Introduction to logistics systems planning and control. John Wiley & Sons
Horizontal Carousel - AS/RS Technology | Conveyco
Logistics 4.0 in practice. Miniload technology uses maximum of warehouse space | trans.info
Dang FL, Wu CX, Wu Y, Li R, Zhang S, Jiaying H, Liu ZG (2019) Cost-based multi-parameter logistics routing path optimization algorithm. Math Biosci Eng: MBE 16(6):6975–6989. https://doi.org/10.3934/mbe.2019350
Xidias EK (2021) A decision algorithm for motion planning of car-like robots in dynamic environments. Cybern Syst 52(6):533–552. https://doi.org/10.1080/01969722.2021.1909844
Djordjevic V, Stojanovic V, Tao H, Song X, He S, Gao W (2022). Data-driven control of hydraulic servo actuator based on adaptive dynamic programming. Discrete Cont Dyn Syst. Series S 15(7)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
We wish to confirm that there are no known conflicts of interest associated with this publication and there has been no financial support for this work that could have influenced its outcome.
We confirm that the manuscript has been read and approved by all named authors and that there are no other persons who satisfied the criteria for authorship but are not listed. We further confirm that the order of authors listed in the manuscript has been approved by all of us and all authors contributed to the study conception and design.
We confirm that we have given due consideration to the protection of intellectual property associated with this work and that there are no impediments to publication, including the timing of publication, with respect to intellectual property. In so doing, we confirm that we have followed the regulations of our institutions concerning intellectual property.
We understand that the Corresponding Author is the sole contact for the Editorial process (including Editorial Manager and direct communications with the office). He is responsible for communicating with the other authors about progress, submissions of revisions and final approval of proofs. We confirm that we have provided a current, correct email address which is accessible by the Corresponding Author and which has been configured to accept email from Robotics and Computer Integrated Manufacturing.
Additional information
Publisher's note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
The original online version of this article was revised: The correct author name is Paraskevi Th. Zacharia.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Xidias, E.K., Zacharia, P.T. & Nearchou, A. SERobWaS: a support environment for a robot-based warehousing system. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 126, 3905–3919 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-023-11349-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-023-11349-6