Complexities of AGV modeling in newspaper roll delivery system

Swisslog Logistics Inc., a leader in Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) technologies, proposed to update a major Northeastern newspaper company´s AGV press delivery system. The project requirements included the development of a simulation model to confirm the proposed vehicle quantity and controls as well as evaluate the performance of the AGV system in response to press changeovers, peak production, and weekly production scenarios. The model provided Swisslog and its customer with the capabilities to evaluate dynamic vehicle scheduling, task priorities, press changeover requirements, vehicle routings and battery charging logic. This paper presents the concepts and techniques used to model the detailed AGV components necessary to successfully meet the project´s objectives.