Motion and layout planning in a grid-based early baggage storage systemHeuristic algorithms and a simulation study

Grid-based storage systems consist of many adjacent square cells arranged in a rectangular grid. Cells are either empty or occupied by a storage item. Items are stored on conveyors and are movable simultaneously and independently into the four cardinal directions. This technology allows for very dense storage. Previous research on grid-based storages has mainly focused on retrieval performance analysis of a single storage item. In this paper, we contribute a framework for the efficient storage and retrieval of a large number of storage items based on a multi-agent routing algorithm. We evaluate the framework using different storage and retrieval strategies in a simulation-based case study, in which we design and analyze a grid-based early baggage storage system at a major German airport.