Optimized mathematical models for multi-AGV scheduling problem with charging requirements and time windows

Abstract

In order to improve the sorting efficiency of automatic guided vehicle (AGV) in the logistics sorting center, an optimized model was proposed considering the characteristics of power consumption and charging demand in the sorting process of electric-driven AGVs. On the basis of considering of the AGVs’ remaining power and package delivery time window, a mixed integer programming (MIP) model with the minimization of the sorting operation cycle and a corresponding constrained programming (CP) model were formulated. In CP model, the interval variables were used to describe the performance of tasks and the change of electric quantity was recorded by using cumulative function. The computational results show that the CP model has better performance compared with the MIP model.Adopting mixed integer programming and constrained programming to formulate the AGV scheduling model can effectively improve the sorting efficiency, reduce the operating cost of enterprises, and provide an alternative solution for the AGV scheduling problem with more constraints.

Keywords

• logistics system management; multi-agv scheduling; charging demand; time window; constrained programming