Multi-task allocation framework of coal gangue sorting robot system for the time-varying raw coal flow

ABSTRACT

The multi-task allocation has become the key to be solved urgently in applying a coal gangue sorting robot system (CGSRS) in raw coal with high throughput. This paper constructs a multi-task allocation framework of CGSRS for time-varying raw coal flow (TVRCF), including task decomposition, task allocation, and collaborative strategy. Establish the TVRCF decomposition model using the tumbling time window method to obtain the gangue model. A multi-task allocation model based on M/M/s queuing model with impatient customers is proposed because arrival time, granularity, and spatial position of the gangue model are uncertain. By introducing trajectory function and designing benefit function, to solve environment states of sorting area. Creating an iterative mechanism for environment states based on the infinite Markov process, using service time and arrival time interval. An adaptive weights rule based on the greedy algorithm (GAW) is proposed to improve the benefit of multi-task allocation. Simulating 18 groups of TVRCF with 9 productivity. Experimental results show that the proposed framework suits the multi-task allocation of CGSRS to TVRCF. The GAW rule always ensures the optimal sorting rate, the near-optimal task completion success rate, and the manipulator utilization rate. In addition, the stability of the GAW rule is best.

KEYWORDS:

• Time-varying raw coal flow
• Markov process
• multi-task
• coal gangue sorting robot system
• queuing theory

Acknowledgements

The authors fully acknowledge the financial support from the national science foundation [NSFC grant no.51975468]; the Key R & D Program of Shaanxi Province [2018 GY-160]; the Key R & D Program of Shaanxi Province [2023-JC-YB-362].

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.