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A bi-level optimization approach for joint rack sequencing and storage assignment in robotic mobile fulfillment systems

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Abstract

This paper studies a novel rack scheduling problem with multiple types of multiple storage locations (RS-MTMS), which can decide the retrieval sequence of racks and assign each rack a storage location after visiting a picking station. A major challenge in RS-MTMS is that the storage assignment problem and the retrieval sequence decision are closely coupled. If the RS-MTMS is solved directly, the storage assignment scheme and the retrieval sequence of racks are generally generated separately, thus resulting in poor performance. To overcome this difficulty, we propose a bi-level optimization approach for jointly optimizing the storage assignment and retrieval sequence (BiJSR). In BiJSR, the storage assignment problem is solved by variable neighborhood search (VNS) in the upper-level optimization. Effective candidate modes are incorporated into VNS to improve solution quality and computational efficiency. The sequencing optimization is obtained in the lower-level according to the given storage location set. A transformation strategy with sufficient problem-specific knowledge is developed to identify the lower-level optimization as the traveling salesman problem and its variants. Then these identified problems are solved using the loop-based strategy. Experimental results show that the proposed BiJSR is more effective and efficient than the representative algorithms in solving the RS-MTMS problem.

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Acknowledgements This work was supported in part by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 61933002), National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (Grant No. 62025301), and National Natural Science Foundation of China Basic Science Center Program (Grant No. 62088101).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Intelligent Control and Decision of Complex Systems, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China

    Xiang Shi, Fang Deng, Sai Lu, Yunfeng Fan & Jie Chen

  2. Beijing Institute of Technology Chongqing Innovation Center, Chongqing, 401120, China

    Fang Deng

  3. Zhejiang Cainiao Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, 311101, China

    Lin Ma

  4. Shanghai Research Institute for Intelligent Autonomous Systems, Shanghai, 200092, China

    Jie Chen

Authors
  1. Xiang Shi
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  2. Fang Deng
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  3. Sai Lu
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  4. Yunfeng Fan
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  5. Lin Ma
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Correspondence to Fang Deng.

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Supporting information Appendixes A–C. The supporting information is available online at info.scichina.com and link. springer.com. The supporting materials are published as submitted, without typesetting or editing. The responsibility for scientific accuracy and content remains entirely with the authors.

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Shi, X., Deng, F., Lu, S. et al. A bi-level optimization approach for joint rack sequencing and storage assignment in robotic mobile fulfillment systems. Sci. China Inf. Sci. 66, 212202 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11432-022-3714-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11432-022-3714-4

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