Quantifying the impact of using multi-function robots on productivity of rotationally arranged robotic cells

This paper investigates the scheduling of a rotationally arranged robotic cell with the Multi-Function Robot (MFR). The earlier known robotic study in this area assumed that the robot only moves the part between machines. We lift this assumption on robot tasks and assumed a special class of robots which is also able to perform a special operation in transit. The aim is to find a minimum cycle time for identical part production. Considering additive and constant travel-time, the distance between any two machines is varying or constant based on the robot acceleration/deceleration for incompact and compact cells. The lower bound of the cycle time is deduced to evaluate the optimality of two practical permutations namely uphill and downhill. It also identifies the regions where using a Multi-Function Robotic Cell (MFRC) is more economical than a Single-Function Robotic Cell (SFRC).