On Analysis of Puzzle-Based Warehouse Systems using Modular Petri Nets

Abstract

Puzzle-based storage (PBS) systems are intended to increase storage density meaning using optimally available storage space. Having dynamic puzzle-based storage systems requires to find and validate tools to support optimal operation of such system. The problem is that as parameters of PBS change, the optimal way for operating that new setup may be needed to be recalculated. The changing parameters can be related to the change of the physical layout of the PBS (e.g. dimensions, number of carriers) or mode (e.g. amount of nodes that can be simultaneously moved, amount of orders simulaneously processed). Each of these parameters may require reevaluation for optimal approaches to control changed PBS. This article proposes to use a modular Petri Nets-based formalism for analysis of PBS setup for finding optimal control approaches. We architect adaptive PBS system that can dynamically adjust to changing configuration and/or control parameters.

Keywords

• puzzle-based storage
• petri nets
• optimization
• formal validation