Decentralized Routing Algorithm with Physical Time Windows for Modular Conveyors

Abstract

We describe a decentralized routing algorithm with physical time windows for modular conveying systems. Existing routing algorithms for modular conveyors are already capable of bi-directional conveying while avoiding conflicts such as collisions, deadlocks, livelocks and starvation effects. In addition to avoiding conflicts, routing algorithms must also select routes that reduce the travel time. No existing algorithm for modular conveyors bases this decision on the expected physical lead time, even though physical lead time directly affects the system throughput. In this publication, we present an algorithm that uses the physical lead time to select routes while avoiding conflicts.