A dynamic algorithm for real-time dispatching and routing operations in Reconfigurable Transportation Systems - RTSs

Reconfigurable Transportation Systems (RTS) rely upon modular transportation units, standard mechatronic interfaces and distributed control solutions so that modules can be plugged and automatically configured. The RTS topology and functional settings' reconfigurability makes the adoption of highly reactive production management solutions mandatory for dynamically governing both the products' flows and resources' utilization. This work presents an algorithm and its software infrastructure for the on-line dispatching-routing of parts and RTS modules' coordination by inferring on logic controllers in real-time. The benefits of the proposed methodology are tested on a reconfigurable transportation system installed in a factory for the remanufacturing of PCBs