Multi-objective optimisation of automated guided dispatching and vehicle routing system

The automated guided vehicle (AGV) system has been widely adopted in industrial automation for the purpose of transporting semi-manufactured goods, components or products across workstations to facilitate production processes in an unmanned factory. The planned routes of AGVs that coordinate workstations in a warehouse serve a critical function in the successful implementation of production processes and in enhancing system performance. Therefore, a mathematical model in the form of multi-objective integer programming model is developed to obtain the optimal number of vehicles that will follow the most effective routes for the pick-up and delivery of multiple products or components along the production flow, which will minimise energy consumption and operational cost. Finally, an illustrative example is presented to verify the proposed model.