Flexible dispatching rules for automated guided vehicles based on a self-adapting fuzzy prioritizing system

In this paper, we propose a flexible dispatching system for unit load automated guided vehicles in a flexible manufacturing environment, using a self-adapting fuzzy logic-driven approach. Unlike conventional heuristical approaches, we are able to satisfy a multi-criterion formulation of factors affecting the dispatch decision. The system also has a self-adaptation feature in that respective influence of the elementary rules may be continuously adapted to suit the manufacturing environment. Simulation results are provided to compare the effectiveness of the approach against current methodologies.