Agent-Based Control of Interaction Areas in Intralogistics: Concept, Implementation and Simulation

Background: Intralogistics systems face growing challenges from globalization, individualization, and shorter product life cycles, demanding flexible and responsive solutions beyond traditional centralized control. Decentralized, agent-based approaches offer potential advantages, especially for Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) systems where managing collisions in interaction areas remains a critical issue. Methods: This study proposes two decentralized, agent-based control concepts for AGV systems in intralogistics. One uses a hierarchical model with an Intersection Manager to coordinate AGV agents, while the other employs a fully heterarchical system. For benchmarking, a First Come, First Served heuristic and a Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) method are also implemented. Simulations show both agent-based approaches effectively prevent collisions and uphold order prioritization and timing goals. While average delays are similar, the heterarchical system requires up to 2.7 times more communication. Priority-based control enhances timeliness for highpriority vehicles but can increase delays for lower-priority AGVs. The MILP method, though effective, is limited by impractical computation times. Results: The study confirms the viability of agent-based control for managing interaction areas in AGV systems, highlighting trade-offs between decentralization, efficiency, and communication. Conclusions: It offers a foundation for further research into hybrid models and real-world application of decentralized control strategies.