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Anisotropic Q-learning and waiting estimation based real-time routing for automated guided vehicles at container terminals

Author

Listed:
  • Pengfei Zhou

    (Dalian University of Technology)

  • Li Lin

    (Dalian Jiaotong University)

  • Kap Hwan Kim

    (Pusan National University)

Abstract

Finding short and convenient routes for vehicles is an important issue on efficient operations of Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) systems at container terminals. This paper proposes an anisotropic Q-learning method for AGVs to find the shortest-time routes in the guide-path network of cross-lane type according to real-time vehicle states, which includes current and destination positions, heading direction and the number of vehicles at anisotropic four-direction neighboring locations. The vehicle waiting time of AGV systems is discussed and its estimation is suggested to improve the policy to select actions in the Q-learning method. An improved anisotropic Q-learning routing algorithm is developed with the vehicle-waiting-time-estimation based selecting-action policy. The parameter settings and performance of the proposed methods are analyzed based on simulations. The numerical experiments show that the improved anisotropic Q-learning method can provide stable and dynamic solutions for AGV routing, and achieve 9.5% improvement in optimization efficiency compared to the Jeon Learning Method (Jeon et al. in Logist Res 3(1):19–27, 2011).

Suggested Citation

  • Pengfei Zhou & Li Lin & Kap Hwan Kim, 2023. "Anisotropic Q-learning and waiting estimation based real-time routing for automated guided vehicles at container terminals," Journal of Heuristics, Springer, vol. 29(2), pages 207-228, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joheur:v:29:y:2023:i:2:d:10.1007_s10732-020-09463-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s10732-020-09463-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Vis, Iris F.A., 2006. "Survey of research in the design and control of automated guided vehicle systems," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 170(3), pages 677-709, May.
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