An expert system based controller for an automated storage/retrieval system

Expert systems have demonstrated their ability to solve problems of a specific domain and achieve quality performance. The technology has been applied in numerous engineering areas. In this paper, an expert system based AS/RS controller, ECSSIM, is presented. The system plans a control strategy based on the long term system characteristics. However, the system alters the control strategy tactically according to the short term control needs. The system performed very well particularly at high demand levels. It also demonstrated its capability of sensing poor control strategies, and tactically compensate for the strategy selection error.