Modelling and analysis for multi-deep compact robotic mobile fulfilment system
本文首次对多深紧凑型机器人移动履行系统进行建模，用半开排队网络和近似均值分析法求解，为仓库规划者设计紧凑仓储提供参考。
With high efficiency and good scalability, Robotic Mobile Fulfilment Systems (RMFS) are increasingly applied in various warehouses, especially the e-commerce warehouses with rigid order completion time. RMFS requires less workers and provide more punctual service for customers. The existing literature on RMFS is based on single-deep non-compact layout. As land supply is limited and expensive in urban area, it’s essential to consider compact storage in RMFS. This paper is the first to model and evaluate the multi-deep compact RMFS. We develop a semi-open queueing network (SOQN) model to characterise the multi-deep compact RMFS and solve it by Approximate Mean Value Analysis (AMVA). The obtained approximate analytic solutions of system throughput, robot utilisation, and queue length were verified and assessed through simulations. The numerical experiments investigated the effects of different configuration of the lane depth, number of picking aisles, arrangement of picking stations and the number of robots on performance. Our research can provide useful guidelines for warehouse planners and managers for designing and operating multi-deep compact RMFS.