Storage efficiency in a deep-lane AVS/RS

Autonomous Vehicle Storage and Retrieval Systems (AVS/RS) are largely widespread in modern companies. Most literature focuses on system performance estimation, such as throughput and cycle time to perform a storage or retrieval transaction. Little attention has been paid to analysing the impact of storage policies and dispatching rules on space efficiency, i.e., storage capacity exploitation. This paper aims to present and apply an original set of indicators to measure the impact of storage policies and dispatching rules on space efficiency, supporting the decision-making process on the design, management, and control of an AVS/RS. The proposed indicators are applied to a real AVS/RS deep-lane from the food and beverage industry.