Puzzle-Based Storage Systems

Abstract

We introduce and develop models for a physical goods storage system based on the 15-puzzle, a classic children's game in which 15 numbered tiles slide within a 4 x 4 grid. The objective of the game is to arrange the tiles in numerical sequence, starting from a random arrangement. For our purposes, the tiles represent totes, pallets, or even containers that must be stored very densely, and the objective is to maneuver items to an input-output point for retrieval or processing. We develop analytical results for storage configurations having a single empty location (as in the game) and experimental results for configurations with multiple empty locations. Designs with many empty locations can be made to form aisles, allowing us to compare puzzle-based designs with traditional aisle-based designs found in warehousing systems.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 06, 2007
Accession Number
ADA466830

Entities

People

  • Kevin R. Gue

Organizations

  • Auburn University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Algorithms
  • Cells
  • Cognitive Systems Engineering
  • Computational Science
  • Control Systems
  • Fungi
  • High Density
  • Literature
  • Mathematics
  • Numbers
  • Observation
  • Sequences
  • Square Roots
  • Storage
  • Systems Engineering
  • Universities
  • Vehicles

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Educational Psychology
  • Logistics and Supply Chain Management.