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arXiv · 2501.14123

Double Traversals in Optimal Picker Routes for Warehouses with Multiple Blocks

George Dunn·Hadi Charkhgard·Ali Eshragh·Elizabeth Stojanovski
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Abstract

Order picking is a process that involves collecting items from their respective locations within a warehouse. There exist dynamic programming algorithms for finding the minimal picker route by considering only a limited number of options for possible travel within a subaisle. Although one such action, traversing an aisle twice, has been shown to never be required for a rectangular warehouse with two cross-aisles, this is not the case when there are more than two cross-aisles. In this work, we demonstrate that double traversals within a subaisle are not required to connect cross-aisle travel regardless of the number of cross-aisles. This result simplifies the structure of feasible tours, enabling more efficient algorithms.

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George Dunn, Hadi Charkhgard, Ali Eshragh, Elizabeth Stojanovski. 2025-01-23. Double Traversals in Optimal Picker Routes for Warehouses with Multiple Blocks. https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.14123

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