An analytical performance investigation of RCS/RS under a class-based access structure over the stack height
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The requirements for modern storage systems are steadily increasing due to limited space, cost, time, and personnel. Robotic compact storage and retrieval systems (RCS/RS), where containers are stacked and arranged in a block layout with robots operating from above, offer a promising solution. Some systems benefit from a self-sorting effect, where robots relocate previously moved containers after accessing non-directly accessible ones, resulting in demand-based sorted stacks. Despite various analytical models for automated storage systems, RCS/RS remain under-researched. Apart from two distinct papers on performance evaluation, there are no general, fast, and easy-to-use tools to assess system throughput under demand-based access patterns. Additionally, the performance benefits of self-sorting have not yet been studied. This paper presents an analytical approach to predict RCS/RS performance using a class-based access structure. A discrete event simulation validates the model, and an optimization example demonstrates the model’s broad applicability and ease of use.
Authors: Philipp Trost, Michael Eder
Institution: TU Wien
Language: English
Subfield: Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,165
OpenAlex ID: W4412471365