Conceptualization Tools for Unit Load Warehouse Design Based on Autonomous Vehicle Technology

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The research project is aimed at closing the gap between the relatively newautonomous vehicle storage and retrieval system (AVS/RS) hardware andcontrol system technology, and the design conceptualization tools needed toassess their impact on unit load storage and retrieval ULS/R operations.The proposed research will advance the analytical foundations of AVS/RSmodeling through development of a new class of specialized queuing networkmodels and lead to creation and deployment of analytical conceptualizationtools comparable to those available for crane-based automated storage andretrieval system (CBAS/RS's). The models developed through this researchwill capture several unique features of AVS/R operations such as vehicleand lift interfacing, storage and retrieval interference effects, selectivetransaction dispatching, consolidated load buffering, and explicit linkageof S/R operations with in-process material flows. The proposed researchwill be conducted as a joint effort between Rensselaer PolytechnicInstitute and University of Louisville, with active participation ofindustry. In terms of educational activities, this project will lead tomultiple doctoral theses and undergraduate student research opportunitiesat the two participating universities. The project will lead to thedevelopment of media-rich multimedia based educational modules that can beused in universities and industry. The conceptualization tools developed in this research will enable accurateand efficient prediction of AVS/RS performance and direct comparisons ofCBAS/R and AVS/R technologies with respect to cost and performance. Themodels will be deployed through decision support tools that integrate thesystems level problems of ULS/RS design with several operational leveldecisions for these systems. The project will also lead to the developmentof web based instructional modules summarizing the findings of thisproject. Prototype versions of the conceptualizing tools will bedisseminated to universities and industry with the help of the MaterialHandling Institute of America (MHIA).