Scheduling of Multi-load Automated Guided Vehicles for Material Distribution Based on Multi-stage Auction Algorithm

This paper studies the scheduling optimization problem of multi-load Automatic Guided Vehicle (AGV) for material distribution in automated plant and the objective of which is to minimize the total task completion time. Firstly, we establish a multi-stage auction optimization model with constraints. Secondly, we propose a multi-load AGV task assignment strategy based on multi-stage auction algorithm. The multi-stage auction algorithm can make full use of the characteristics of multi-load AGV and reduce the empty-loading ratio of multi-load AGV. Finally, the single-load AGV task assignment method and the strategy proposed in this paper are simulated and compared on the Microsoft Visual Studio 2013. The simulation results demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed strategy.