Analysing the Effects of Congestion on Hybrid Order Picking Systems using a Discrete-Event Simulator

Charlie Street; Sri Sadhan Jujjavarapu; Michael Nai-An Chen; Sanjoy Paul; Nick Hawes

Analysing the Effects of Congestion on Hybrid Order Picking Systems using a Discrete-Event Simulator

Charlie Street, Sri Sadhan Jujjavarapu, Michael Nai-An Chen, Sanjoy Paul, Nick Hawes

Computer Science

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

In hybrid order-picking systems (OPSs), human workers collaborate alongside autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) to pick up and transport items in a warehouse. Congestion occurs when multiple humans and AGVs operate in an area simultaneously. Congestion decreases AGV navigation performance and may cause queuing delays at packing stations. In this paper, we study the impact of congestion on the performance of hybrid OPSs. We simulate a hybrid OPS using a discrete-event simulator and evaluate the throughput under different levels of congestion and the number of AGVs. Using 10 AGVs under no congestion, we observe a throughput increase of 105% compared to a manual OPS with zero AGVs. However, this improvement decreases as the effects of congestion become stronger. Under our heaviest congestion model, there was only a 3% throughput increase for 10 AGVs. We also analyse the economic impact of adding AGVs to a hybrid OPS. Under medium congestion, the optimal number of AGVs for maximising long-term profit is 20.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Intelligent Autonomous Systems 18
Subtitle of host publication	Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on IAS18-2023
Editors	Soon-Guel Lee, Jinung An, Nak Young Chong, Marcus Strand, Joo H. Kim
Publisher	Springer
Number of pages	11
Publication status	Accepted/In press - 20 Apr 2023
Event	18th International Conference on Intelligent Autonomous Systems - Suwon, Korea, Republic of Duration: 4 Jul 2023 → 7 Jul 2023 Conference number: 18 https://ias-18.org/

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems
Publisher	Springer
ISSN (Print)	2367-3370
ISSN (Electronic)	2367-3389

Conference

Conference	18th International Conference on Intelligent Autonomous Systems
Abbreviated title	IAS18 - 2023
Country/Territory	Korea, Republic of
City	Suwon
Period	4/07/23 → 7/07/23
Internet address	https://ias-18.org/

Bibliographical note

Not yet published as of 22/04/2024; proceedings publication expected May 2024.

Embargoed Document

StreetC2023Analysing
Accepted author manuscript, 1.49 MB
Licence: None: All rights reserved
Embargo ends: 20/05/24

Cite this

Street, C., Sadhan Jujjavarapu, S., Nai-An Chen, M., Paul, S., & Hawes, N. (Accepted/In press). Analysing the Effects of Congestion on Hybrid Order Picking Systems using a Discrete-Event Simulator. In S.-G. Lee, J. An, N. Y. Chong, M. Strand, & J. H. Kim (Eds.), Intelligent Autonomous Systems 18: Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on IAS18-2023 (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems). Springer.

Street, Charlie ; Sadhan Jujjavarapu, Sri ; Nai-An Chen, Michael et al. / Analysing the Effects of Congestion on Hybrid Order Picking Systems using a Discrete-Event Simulator. Intelligent Autonomous Systems 18: Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on IAS18-2023. editor / Soon-Guel Lee ; Jinung An ; Nak Young Chong ; Marcus Strand ; Joo H. Kim. Springer, 2023. (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems).

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title = "Analysing the Effects of Congestion on Hybrid Order Picking Systems using a Discrete-Event Simulator",

abstract = "In hybrid order-picking systems (OPSs), human workers collaborate alongside autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) to pick up and transport items in a warehouse. Congestion occurs when multiple humans and AGVs operate in an area simultaneously. Congestion decreases AGV navigation performance and may cause queuing delays at packing stations. In this paper, we study the impact of congestion on the performance of hybrid OPSs. We simulate a hybrid OPS using a discrete-event simulator and evaluate the throughput under different levels of congestion and the number of AGVs. Using 10 AGVs under no congestion, we observe a throughput increase of 105% compared to a manual OPS with zero AGVs. However, this improvement decreases as the effects of congestion become stronger. Under our heaviest congestion model, there was only a 3% throughput increase for 10 AGVs. We also analyse the economic impact of adding AGVs to a hybrid OPS. Under medium congestion, the optimal number of AGVs for maximising long-term profit is 20.",

author = "Charlie Street and {Sadhan Jujjavarapu}, Sri and {Nai-An Chen}, Michael and Sanjoy Paul and Nick Hawes",

note = "Not yet published as of 22/04/2024; proceedings publication expected May 2024.; 18th International Conference on Intelligent Autonomous Systems, IAS18 - 2023 ; Conference date: 04-07-2023 Through 07-07-2023",

year = "2023",

month = apr,

day = "20",

language = "English",

series = "Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems",

publisher = "Springer",

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Street, C, Sadhan Jujjavarapu, S, Nai-An Chen, M, Paul, S & Hawes, N 2023, Analysing the Effects of Congestion on Hybrid Order Picking Systems using a Discrete-Event Simulator. in S-G Lee, J An, NY Chong, M Strand & JH Kim (eds), Intelligent Autonomous Systems 18: Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on IAS18-2023. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, Springer, 18th International Conference on Intelligent Autonomous Systems, Suwon, Korea, Republic of, 4/07/23.

Analysing the Effects of Congestion on Hybrid Order Picking Systems using a Discrete-Event Simulator. / Street, Charlie; Sadhan Jujjavarapu, Sri; Nai-An Chen, Michael et al.
Intelligent Autonomous Systems 18: Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on IAS18-2023. ed. / Soon-Guel Lee; Jinung An; Nak Young Chong; Marcus Strand; Joo H. Kim. Springer, 2023. (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

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T1 - Analysing the Effects of Congestion on Hybrid Order Picking Systems using a Discrete-Event Simulator

AU - Street, Charlie

AU - Sadhan Jujjavarapu, Sri

AU - Nai-An Chen, Michael

AU - Paul, Sanjoy

AU - Hawes, Nick

N1 - Conference code: 18

PY - 2023/4/20

Y1 - 2023/4/20

N2 - In hybrid order-picking systems (OPSs), human workers collaborate alongside autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) to pick up and transport items in a warehouse. Congestion occurs when multiple humans and AGVs operate in an area simultaneously. Congestion decreases AGV navigation performance and may cause queuing delays at packing stations. In this paper, we study the impact of congestion on the performance of hybrid OPSs. We simulate a hybrid OPS using a discrete-event simulator and evaluate the throughput under different levels of congestion and the number of AGVs. Using 10 AGVs under no congestion, we observe a throughput increase of 105% compared to a manual OPS with zero AGVs. However, this improvement decreases as the effects of congestion become stronger. Under our heaviest congestion model, there was only a 3% throughput increase for 10 AGVs. We also analyse the economic impact of adding AGVs to a hybrid OPS. Under medium congestion, the optimal number of AGVs for maximising long-term profit is 20.

AB - In hybrid order-picking systems (OPSs), human workers collaborate alongside autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) to pick up and transport items in a warehouse. Congestion occurs when multiple humans and AGVs operate in an area simultaneously. Congestion decreases AGV navigation performance and may cause queuing delays at packing stations. In this paper, we study the impact of congestion on the performance of hybrid OPSs. We simulate a hybrid OPS using a discrete-event simulator and evaluate the throughput under different levels of congestion and the number of AGVs. Using 10 AGVs under no congestion, we observe a throughput increase of 105% compared to a manual OPS with zero AGVs. However, this improvement decreases as the effects of congestion become stronger. Under our heaviest congestion model, there was only a 3% throughput increase for 10 AGVs. We also analyse the economic impact of adding AGVs to a hybrid OPS. Under medium congestion, the optimal number of AGVs for maximising long-term profit is 20.

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UR - https://link.springer.com/book/9783031448508

UR - https://link.springer.com/book/9783031449802

M3 - Conference contribution

T3 - Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems

BT - Intelligent Autonomous Systems 18

A2 - Lee, Soon-Guel

A2 - An, Jinung

A2 - Chong, Nak Young

A2 - Strand, Marcus

A2 - Kim, Joo H.

PB - Springer

T2 - 18th International Conference on Intelligent Autonomous Systems

Y2 - 4 July 2023 through 7 July 2023

ER -

Street C, Sadhan Jujjavarapu S, Nai-An Chen M, Paul S, Hawes N. Analysing the Effects of Congestion on Hybrid Order Picking Systems using a Discrete-Event Simulator. In Lee SG, An J, Chong NY, Strand M, Kim JH, editors, Intelligent Autonomous Systems 18: Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on IAS18-2023. Springer. 2023. (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems).

Analysing the Effects of Congestion on Hybrid Order Picking Systems using a Discrete-Event Simulator

Abstract

Publication series

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Bibliographical note

Embargoed Document

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