Flexible manufacturing systems like Matrix Production Systems are enabling companies to manufacture mass customized products demanded by customers. Consequently, they require a highly productive and flexible transport system, as products do not follow a fixed route through production. Autonomous Mobile Robots, being able to navigate freely within the shop floor, present a promising technical solution meeting these requirements. This is especially true, if they are able to transport multiple loads at once. However, the fact that every process module is simultaneously a source and a sink of transport demands introduces a variant of the Vehicle Routing Problem that has not yet appeared in intralogistics, called Pickup and Delivery Problem (PDP). This contribution investigates how to adapt the PDP to represent the particular requirements of intralogistics, forming the foundation for developing efficient control strategies.     «

Flexible manufacturing systems like Matrix Production Systems are enabling companies to manufacture mass customized products demanded by customers. Consequently, they require a highly productive and flexible transport system, as products do not follow a fixed route through production. Autonomous Mobile Robots, being able to navigate freely within the shop floor, present a promising technical solution meeting these requirements. This is especially true, if they are able to transport multiple load...     »