An AGVS simulation code generation for manufacturing applications

The concept of developing an automatic simulation method in connection with the design of an automated guided vehicle system (AGVS) is considered. A simulation code generator (SCG), implemented to demonstrate this concept, is described. The generator converts input data, provided by the designer, into a SIMAN simulation program for evaluating a manufacturing system with automated guided vehicles moving along a unidirectional guidepath network. An operation scheme which describes the information flow in an AGVS is also presented to aid the understanding of the system logic and the development of the SCG. The simulation model logic is illustrated by a network diagram in which each node corresponds to an event or a process. A case study is used to demonstrate the SCG