Efficient Deadlock Detection and Resolution Algorithm for AGV Fleet Management

A well-known challenge in managing fleets of Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) is the issue of deadlocks. A deadlock occurs when two or more AGVs become mutually blocked, rendering the completion of their respective missions impossible. This article introduces a novel algorithm designed to detect and resolve deadlocks. The detection of deadlocks is achieved by employing the well-established Depth First algorithm, which analyzes the precedence relationships among the vehicles assigned by the traffic manager. If the deadlock condition is identified, a Conflict Based Search (CBS) algorithm is initialized for the involved vehicles. CBS is applied to the road map to find new paths in space-time without conflicts, effectively resolving the deadlock. Thus, some examples of deadlocks that the algorithm succeeds in resolving are presented. By implementing this strategy, AGV fleets can mitigate the degradation of performance caused by the occurrence of deadlocks and ensure smoother operations in automated logistics.