A bidding-based control strategy for multiple-load automated guided vehicles

In this paper, we propose a bidding-based control strategy for multiple-load automated guided vehicles (AGVs) in a JIT manufacturing system with flexible processing and routing capabilities. In the proposed control strategy, we not only need to solve the problem of dispatching which vehicle to pick up which part, but also need to consider the due dates of parts and the utilization rates of vehicles. We are also required to develop an effective and efficient route planning method to help vehicles find the best routes to perform their tasks. Simulation experiments are then conducted to test the performance of the proposed control strategy. Our experimental results indicate that the proposed control strategy can produce satisfactory results.