Required Number of AGVS

Assessment of the number of AGVs needed in the system is a significant element of the system design. In this, we provide a simple mathematical analysis for the determination of the number of vehicles. The following notations are utilized:

D_c = Total average empty travel distance.

D_d = Total average loaded travel distance.

N_dr = Number of deliveries required per hour.

T_f  = Traffic factor that accounts for blocking of vehicles & waiting of vehicles in line and at intersection. If there is no congestion, the traffic factor is 1. However, when more vehicles are included, the traffic factor value will certainly be less than 1. In general, T_f lies between 0.85 and 1.

v    = Vehicle speed.

T_h  = Loading and unloading time.

The overall time per delivery per vehicle (T_dv) is given by the sum of loaded travel time, loading & unloading time, and empty travel time as follows:

T_dv = D_d /v / + T_h + D_c /v

Number of deliveries per vehicle per hour

N _d =60 T f/ T_dv

Number of automated guided vehicles = N_dr/N_d

The treatise explained here provides an approximate estimate of number of vehicles.