Proximity Value for a Storage Assignment Policy in a Multi-I/O Point ETV

Abstract

This paper is focused on an analysis of Elevating Transfer Vehicle (ETV) System installed in an existing air cargo terminal. The operation of ETV System is very similar to that of Automated Storage and Retrieval System (AS/RS), and the existence of multi-input and output (I/O) points in ETVs is assumed. The proximity value (PV) is defined for the procedure of storage assignment in ETVs with multi-I/O points. The validity and usefulness of the PV in the assignment procedure of automated storage are shown through the simulation study. For a multi-I/O point ETV, dynamic time based PVs are more efficient for the storage policy while the class-based storage policy works better for a single I/O point system. Although, this study focuses mainly on an efficient policy for an ETV system, the proposed rule for the operation of the system would work with an AS/RS as well.