Using Simulation to Design an Automated Underground System for Transporting Freight Around Schiphol Airport

Abstract

To avoid road congestion, we are developing a highly automated underground transport system using automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) around Schiphol Airport. It is unique in its scale, incorporating 16 to 25 km tubes connecting five to 20 terminals, and it includes 200 to 400 AGVs to transport an estimated 3.5 million tons of cargo in 2020 with different ordering priorities. According to the current plans, the system will run from 2006 on. Since 1997, we have used object-oriented simulations to plan the dimensions of the system (number of AGVs, terminal sizes) and to design the layout (network, terminals). We showed that an investment reduction of plus or minus 20 percent is feasible using periodically switched one-way tube sections. We developed a variety of logistics optimization algorithms and heuristics, including allocating AGVs between terminals, scheduling terminals, and controlling traffic. We used simulation control structures to test prototype AGVs on a test site. Performing distributed simulations with a mixture of simulated and real objects, we could reduce the risks of the new technology.

Dynamic transport scheduling under multiple resource constraints

“…This research was motivated by a study on an automated transportation system near Schiphol Airport, the Netherlands; see Van der Heijden et al (2002b). Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) transport time critical products between terminals, with distances up to 10 km.…”

Network Planning Method for Capacitated Metro‐Based Underground Logistics System

“…Various forms of ULS with different locomotives or driving methods have been developed and applied, such as CargoCap underground freight transportation system in Germany [2], OLS-ASH project in Netherland [3], and Pipe §net vacuum freight capsule in Italy [4][5][6][7]. ULS is widely recognized as a great innovation in the logistics industry because of its huge benefits to the city.…”

Modeling of capacitated transportation systems for integral scheduling

“…The motivation of our research is a planned automated cargo transportation network using AGVs around Schiphol Airport, the Netherlands (see van der Heijden et al [10]). To run such a network, a wide range of coherent decisions has to be taken, such as prioritising transportation jobs, load consolidation, assignment of loads to AGVs and docks (for loading), assignment of loaded AG Vs to docks (for unloading), and redistribution of empty AGVs to cope with imbalanced transportation flows.…”

“…A suitable logistic planning and control system should be fast and flexible, that is, it should be able to take decisions in real time, taking into account rapidly changing circumstances (such as the arrival of rush jobs and AGV failures), and the limited resource capacities. Van del' Heijden et al [10] developed a local control concept, in which they use relatively simple heuristics and algorithms for each decision. Although such an approach is fast and flexible indeed, efficient resource usage is not guaranteed.…”