The study of intelligent scheduling algorithm oriented to complex constraints and multi-process roller grinding workshop

• Main Authors: Hanyang Li, Chao Wang, Sheng Jiang, Sheng Liu, Yiming Rong, Xuekun Li
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2020-11-01
• Series: Advances in Mechanical Engineering
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1177/1687814020975884

Roller grinding workshop is a typical multi-unit and multi-task manufacturing scenario, which is aimed to repair the surface damage of the rollers caused by the rolling process, so that the rollers can be reused. Due to the process complexity of roller grinding workshop and the large volume and weight of the roller, hoisting and transportation mode with multiple cranes is required. Consequently, the scheduling of the roller grinding workshop needs to consider both the task sequencing in time and the noninterference of the multi-crane trajectory in space. In this paper, the intelligent scheduling of roller grinding workshop is studied based on the characteristics of complex tasks and space-time coupling constraints. Firstly, the scheduling basis is established based on priority rules and process constraints. In order to solve the scheduling problem under the space-time coupling constraints, the position coordinate system is established, and then the algorithms of crane position tracking and cooperative motion without interference are developed. Further, considering the transportation time of crane and its out of sync time point with the processes, the intelligent decision and scheduling algorithm are developed based on the dynamic priority strategy defined to realize scheduling, including time decision, crane decision, and process decision. With the developed intelligent scheduling algorithm applied, the simulation of the roller grinding workshop is conducted under three combinations of priority strategy and noninterference strategy to verify algorithm performance. Under the guarantee of crane noninterference during the full production, the efficiency is improved by 22.1% compared with the existing processing mode of industry. Additionally, EPTR (effective process time rate) based on dynamic priority strategy and noninterference strategy B is up to 100% to avoid intervals between two processes in the scheduling. The dynamic priority developed in this paper reveals more efficiency than MOR principle, while with the strategy B the CUR (crane utilization rate) can be improved more than 20% under the condition of enough machines which facilitates to obtain shorter makespan than strategy A. The intelligent scheduling algorithm developed guarantees the effectiveness and rationality of scheduling with multi-unit and multi-task under the complex constraints. Finally, in order to realize the automatic and intelligent operation of the roller grinding workshop, the management software of the roller grinding workshop is developed by integrating the intelligent scheduling algorithm, which realizes the intelligent production, monitoring, and management of the roller grinding workshop during the full production cycle.