Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Simulated annealing and tabu search approaches to unidirectional flowpath design for Automated Guided Vehicle Systems

  • Published:
Annals of Operations Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this paper, we address the flowpath design issue of Automated Guided Vehicle Systems (AGVSs). In particular, we concentrate on the design of unidirectional flowpaths (i.e. vehicles are restricted to travel only in one direction along a given segment of the flowpath). We have developed intelligent heuristics — simulated annealing and tabu search algorithms for the design of unidirectional AGVSs. Different versions of simulated annealing and tabu search algorithms are implemented. Our extensive computational results indicate that both simulated annealing and tabu search yield solutions of adequate quality for all practical purposes. A tabu search implementation with the use of a frequency-based memory structure dominates all tested heuristics in terms of solution quality (i.e. percent deviation from optimality), with an impressive average performance over 45 test problems of less than 0.85% deviation from optimality.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. E. Aarts and J. Korst (eds.),Simulated Annealing and Boltzmann Machines: A Stochastic Approach to Combinatorial Optimization and Neural Computing (Wiley, New York, 1989).

    Google Scholar 

  2. E. Blair, Vehicle routing and material handling subject to stochastic demand, Bull. ORSA/TIMS Joint National Meeting, Colorado Springs (1980).

  3. V. Cerny, A thermodynamical approach to the traveling salesman problem: An efficient simulation algorithm, J. Optim. Theory Appl. 45(1985)41–51.

    Google Scholar 

  4. K. Dahlstrom, Where to use AGV systems, manual forklifts, traditional fixed roller conveyer systems respectively,Proc. 1st Int. Conf. on AGVS, Stratford-upon-Avon (1982) pp. 173–182.

  5. P.J. Egbelu, Pull versus push strategy for Automated Guided Vehicle load movement in a batch manufacturing, J. Manuf. Syst. 6(1987)209–221.

    Google Scholar 

  6. P.J. Egbelu and J.M.A. Tanchoco, Potential for bi-directional guide-path for Automated Guided Vehicle based systems, Int. J. Prod. Res. 24(1986)1075–1097.

    Google Scholar 

  7. P.J. Egbelu and J.M.A. Tanchoco, Characterization of Automatic Guided Vehicle dispatching rules, Int. J. Prod. Res. 22(1984)359–374.

    Google Scholar 

  8. R.J. Gaskins and J.M.A. Tanchoco, Flowpath design for Automated Guided Vehicle systems, Int. J. Prod. Res. 25(1987)667–676.

    Google Scholar 

  9. F. Glover, Tabu search, Part 1, ORSA J. Comp. 1(1990)190–206.

    Google Scholar 

  10. F. Glover, Tabu search: A tutorial, Interfaces 20(1990)74–94.

    Google Scholar 

  11. F. Glover, Tabu search, Part 2, ORSA J. Comp. 2(1991)4–32.

    Google Scholar 

  12. F. Glover, Future paths for integer programming and links to artificial intelligence, Comp. Oper. Res. 5(1986)533–549.

    Google Scholar 

  13. F. Glover and M.M. Laguna, Tabu search, in:Modern Heuristic Techniques for Combinatorial Problems (1992), to appear.

  14. B.L. Golden and C.C. Skiscim, Using simulated annealing to solve routing and location problems, Naval Res. Logist. Quart. 33(1986)261–279.

    Google Scholar 

  15. W. Grobeschallau and R. Heinzel, A new planning method for AGVS with computer graphics,Proc. 2nd Int. Conf. on AGVS, Stuttgart, Germany (1983) pp. 31–40.

  16. A.S. Kannewurf, Computer controlled guided vehicles,Proc. 3rd Int. Conf. on Automation in Warehousing, Chicago (1979) pp. 177–184.

  17. M. Kaspi and J.M.A. Tanchoco, Optimal flow path design of unidirectional AGV systems, Int. J. Prod. Res. 28(1990)1023–1030.

    Google Scholar 

  18. S. Kirkpatrick, C.D. Gelatt and M.P. Vecchi, Optimization by simulated annealing, Science 220(1983)671–680.

    Google Scholar 

  19. G.A. Koff and B. Boldrin, Automated Guided Vehicles,Materials Handling Handbook, ed. R.A. Kulwiec (Wiley, New York, 1985) pp. 273–314.

    Google Scholar 

  20. P. Kouvelis, Desig and planning problems in flexible manufacturing systems: A critical review, J. Int. Manuf. 3(1992)75–99.

    Google Scholar 

  21. P. Kouvelis, G.J. Gutierrez and W.-C. Chiang, Heuristic unidirectional flowpath design approaches for Automated Guided Vehicle systems, Int. J. Prod. Res. 30(1990)1327–1351.

    Google Scholar 

  22. A. Kusiak (ed.),Flexible Manufacturing Systems: Methods and Studies (North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1986).

    Google Scholar 

  23. A. Kusiak,Intelligent Manufacturing Systems (Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1990).

    Google Scholar 

  24. A. Kusiak, Material handling in flexible manufacturing systems, Material Flow 2(1985)79–95.

    Google Scholar 

  25. A. Kuhn, Efficient planning for AGVSs by analytical methods,Proc. 2nd Int. Conf. on AGVSs, Stuttgart, Germany (1983) pp. 1–10.

  26. J.O. Matson and J.A. White, Operational research and material handling, Euro. J. Oper. Res. (1982) 309–318.

  27. W.L. Maxwell, Solving material handling design problems with OR, Ind. Eng. 13(1981)58–69.

    Google Scholar 

  28. W.L. Maxwell and J.A. Muckstadt, Design of Automatic Guided Vehicles systems, IIE Trans. 14(1982)114–124.

    Google Scholar 

  29. N. Metropolis, A.W. Rosenbluth, M.N. Rosenbluth, A.H. Teller and E. Teller, Equation of state calculations by fast computing machines, J. Chem. Phys. 21(1953)1087–1091.

    Google Scholar 

  30. T. Müller,Automated Guided Vehicles (IFS Publ., Bedford, 1983).

    Google Scholar 

  31. D. Newton, Simulation models helps determine how many automated guided vehicles are needed, Ind. Eng. 17(1985)68–78.

    Google Scholar 

  32. H.E. Robbins, A theorem on graphs with an application to a problem of traffic control, Amer. Math. Monthly 46(1939)281–283.

    Google Scholar 

  33. R.L. Robinson and B.E. Tuan, Computer aided color graphics for vehicle scheduling and dispatching,IEEE Proc. Int. Conf. on Cybernetics and Society, Seattle (1982) pp. 125–127.

  34. R.S. Russel and J.M.A. Tanchoco, An evaluation of vehicle dispatching rules and their effect on shop performance, Material Flow 1(1984)271–280.

    Google Scholar 

  35. F. Schneider, Robomatic system for dress-up of engines and transmissions at OPEL, Germany,Proc. 1st Int. Conf. on AGVS, Stratford-upon-Avon (1981) pp. 199–212.

  36. G.P. Sharp and F.F. Liu, An analytical method for configuring fixed path-closed loop material handling systems, Int. J. Prod. Res. 28(1990)757–783.

    Google Scholar 

  37. M.A. Venkataramanan and K.A. Wilson, A branch-and-bound algorithm for flow-path design of Automated Guided Vehicle systems, Naval Res. Logist. Quart. 38(1991)431–445.

    Google Scholar 

  38. S.P.T. Wang, Animated graphic simulation of Automatic Guided Vehicle systems,Proc. Winter Simulation Conf. (1985) pp. 252–256.

  39. S. Warshall, A theorem on Boolean matrices, J. ACM 9(1962)11–12.

    Google Scholar 

  40. A. Berati and A. Niicola, FIAT Torino and Cassino robogate system: Flexible chaining of robotized welding stations with robocarriers, in:Proc. 1st Int. Conf. on AGVs, ed. R.H. Hollier, Stratford-upon-Avon (1981) pp. 43–52.

  41. W.G. Goetz and P.J. Egbelu, Guide path design and location of load pick-up/drop-off points for an automated guided vehicle system, Int. J. Prod. Res. 28(1990)927–942.

    Google Scholar 

  42. D. Sinriech and J.M.A. Tanchoco, Intersection graph method for AGV flow path design, Int. J. Prod. Res. 29(1991)1725–1732.

    Google Scholar 

  43. P.J.M. Van Laarhoven and E.H. Aarts,Simulated Annealing: Theory and Applications (Reidel, Dordrecht, 1987).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Quantitative Methods and Management Information Systems, College of Business Administration, University of Tulsa, 74104-3189, Tulsa, OK, USA

    Wen-Chyuan Chiang

  2. The Fuqua School of Business, Duke University, 27708-0120, Durham, NC, USA

    Panagiotis Kouvelis

Authors
  1. Wen-Chyuan Chiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Panagiotis Kouvelis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chiang, WC., Kouvelis, P. Simulated annealing and tabu search approaches to unidirectional flowpath design for Automated Guided Vehicle Systems. Ann Oper Res 50, 115–142 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02085637

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02085637

Keywords

Search

Navigation