Comprehensive Review of the Dispatching, Scheduling and Routing of AGVs

Automated Guided Vehicle System (AGVS) has become an important strategic tool for automated warehouses. In a very competitive business scenario, they can increase productivity and reduce costs of FMS (Flexible Manufacturing System) transportation systems. The AGV System provides efficient material flow and distribution among workstations at the right time and place. To attend such requirements, AGVS involves dispatching and scheduling of tasks and routing of AGVs. Some studies have approached such procedures in a similar form, although they have different functionalities. This paper reviews the literature related to the dispatching, scheduling and routing of AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles) and highlights their main differences in comparison with the common management of vehicles transportation systems. To obtain a theoretical base, the definitions of dispatching, routing and scheduling procedures for materials handling applications are presented and the main methods to solve them are discussed.