Katherine S Rust

US Patent:

20090083091, Mar 26, 2009

Filed:

Sep 24, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/860150

Inventors:

Katherine Kristin Rust - Austin TX, US
Matthias Schoeps - Dresden, DE

International Classification:

G06F 17/00
G06F 9/44

US Classification:

705 7, 705400

Abstract:

A method for determining parking assignments for material handling vehicles in a manufacturing system is provided. The manufacturing system is operable to perform fabrication processes on a plurality of loads. The method includes identifying at least one idle material handling vehicle. A first cost factor associated with expected transit times for the at least one idle material handling vehicle to available parking locations in the manufacturing system is determined. A second cost factor based on a number of loads available to be serviced by the at least one idle material handling vehicle in the parking locations and relative priorities assigned to the loads is determined. A parking location for the at least one idle material handling vehicles is determined based on the first and second cost factors. A parking request is issued to the at least one idle material handling vehicle based on the determined parking locations.