A load Scattering Algorithm for Dynamic Routing of Automated Material Handling Systems

An agent-based dynamic routing strategy for a generic automated material handling systems (AMHS) is developed. The strategy employs an agent-based paradigm in which the control points of a network of AMHS components are modelled as cooperating node agents. With the inherent features of route discovery a set of shortest and near-shortest path, an average-flow route selection algorithm is developed to scatter the load of an AMHS. Their performance is investigated through a detailed simulation study. The performance of the proposed dynamic routing strategy is benchmarked with the shortest path algorithm. The results of the simulation experiments are presented and their performance compared under a number of performance indices including the hop count, flow and ability to balance network loading.