Integrated Design for Automated Guided Vehicle Systems Using Cooperative Co-evolution

Abstract

An integrated design process for automated guided vehicle (AGV) systems is proposed in this paper. There are two problems inherent in the design of systems: transporter routings and flow-path networks. They should both be solved at the same time because one depends on the other. In the present research, this issue is solved through cooperative co-evolution. For the development of co-evolution, some partner selection strategies and some evolving cycles, which are proper for design process, are evaluated. Both the transporter routing problems and the flow-path network problems are represented as different species, and a genetic algorithm is applied to them. AGV systems designed with this method are evaluated through simulations with real data. These simulations show that the proposed method makes it possible to improve the effectiveness of AGV systems.

Keywords:

• COOPERATIVE CO-EVOLUTION
• AUTOMATED GUIDED VEHICLE SYSTEM
• FLOW-PATH NETWORK
• TRANSPORTER ROUTING
• INTEGRATED DESIGN