Optimization of free-fall-flow-rack automated storage and retrieval system dimensions

Abstract

The automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RSs) consist of automated material handling solutions for warehouses based on a computer-controlled system. The AS/RS offers a better alternative to manual storage/retrieval of items. It is important to know that the design of an AS/RS is crucial to increase the system performance. For this, this paper deals with optimizing the dimensions of the free-fall-flow rack AS/RS (FF-flow-rack AS/RS). These optimal dimensions are evaluated according to the minimum retrieval travel time. In the first part, we present the FF-flow-rack AS/RS then, we develop its discrete model that estimates the average retrieval-travel-time. Subsequently, an optimization algorithm has been developed and used for several rack capacity. The proposed method allows to find the optimal dimensions of the rack with a reasonable computing time.