A CONTROL CLASSIFICATION OF
AUTOMATED GUIDED VEHICLE SYSTEMS

Brett A. Peters, Jeffrey S. Smith, and S. Venkatesh

Department of Industrial Engineering

Texas A&M University

College Station, TX 77843-3131

Automated guided vehicle systems (AGVS) are widely used for transporting material in manufacturing and warehousing applications. These systems offer many advantages over other forms of material transport. However, the design of these systems is complex due to the interrelated decisions that must be made and the large number of system design alternatives that are available. In particular, the design of the AGVS control system can be quite challenging, and it can dramatically affect the system cost and performance. This paper presents a classification of automated guided vehicle systems developed from a control perspective. This classification is demonstrated on several example systems from the literature. The classification is useful for understanding the implications of the AGVS design decisions on the control system. It also provides the first step toward the development of a useful AGVS design aid that helps a system designer determine the most appropriate AGVS design for a particular application.

Significance: This paper develops a classification scheme that provides a structured mechanism for organizing the relevant information about the design of the AGVS from a control perspective. It allows the system designer to determine how design decisions will impact the control complexity. It also provides the foundation for a design aid that will help the system designer determine the most appropriate AGVS design for a specific application.

Keywords: Automated Guided Vehicle Systems, Control Systems, System Classification, Material Handling Systems

Click here to view the full paper on line.
Click here for the full paper in MS Word format.