Facility Vehicle Routing for Dynamic Material Transport Tasks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inefficient in-facility transportation of materials in manufacturing and similar facilities due to inefficient vehicle routes and schedules that fail to accommodate dynamic changes and human operator constraints.
Innovation Solution
A system controlling a fleet of vehicles using a processor with non-transitory computer-readable medium instructions for point-to-point transportation optimization, considering a hierarchy of optimization factors and minimizing infeasibility scores to ensure task completion with available vehicle capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If fixed schedules and static conditions are used for vehicle transportation, then operational simplicity is maintained, but transportation efficiency and adaptability to dynamic changes deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static fixed schedules to dynamic optimization by continuously adjusting vehicle routes and schedules based on real-time facility conditions, task priorities, and vehicle availability, thereby improving transportation efficiency while maintaining operational manageability through automated control
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by monitoring facility operations and vehicle status in real-time, using this information to dynamically adjust transportation schedules and routes, enabling the system to adapt to changing conditions and optimize productivity
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional vehicle routing methods are used, then implementation simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to dynamic changes in facility conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces traditional mechanical routing methods with an automated computational optimization system that uses processors and algorithms to calculate optimal vehicle routes and schedules based on real-time facility conditions, task requirements, and vehicle capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes routing parameters such as vehicle assignment, route sequences, and timing based on optimization calculations that consider facility conditions, task priorities, and vehicle availability, enabling flexible adaptation to changing requirements
3Adaptability or versatility
If human operator schedule requirements are accommodated, then operational flexibility is improved, but vehicle utilization efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The optimization system serves multiple functions simultaneously by accommodating human operator schedules while also optimizing vehicle utilization, task completion timing, and overall facility productivity through integrated multi-objective optimization
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically balances competing requirements by continuously adjusting vehicle assignments and schedules to accommodate human operator availability while maintaining high vehicle utilization through real-time optimization of task allocation
Data Source
AI summary
A system and computer-implemented method for optimizing operations of a facility having a number of associated vehicles providing point-to-point transportation of deliverables. The vehicles may comprise autonomous operations directed by a processor. The deliverables may comprise materials or components for facility operations. The facility may be able to dynamically adapt to changes in environment or operational demands.