Adaptability of task scheduling algorithm for shuttle-based storage and retrieval system

A shuttle-based storage and retrieval system (SBS/RS) integrates the functions of storage and order picking, had higher operational efficiency. But the system performance may be affected by the scheduling strategy and various parameter settings between devices. Through analyzing the SBS/RS's workflow and computing the service time of equipments, a mixed integer programming model aiming at minimizing the total outbound time was established. As for model solving, the improved ant colony algorithm with tabu search and genetic algorithm were proposed to solve the model separately. At the same time, the heuristic algorithms were combined with Gurobi tools to obtain exact solutions quickly. By analyzing the bottleneck of each improved algorithm, an adaptability scheme between the task scale and the optimal solution was established, which provided strategy for the efficient solution of the task scheduling problem, reduced the order operation time and improved the operation efficiency. © 2022, Editorial Department of CIMS. All right reserved.