FLOWER

FLOWER's ambition is to integrate energy criteria into the design and algorithmic management of logistics platforms to achieve a significant reduction in CO2 emissions.

Logistics platforms are the hotspots of global value chains and major efficiency levers, which require ever more responsiveness, fluidity, and optimization. Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS) make it possible to drastically increase the productivity of modern logistics platforms. To date, these installations have always been sized in relation to the peak order preparation flow. Their control algorithms do not adapt to downward variations in activity and does not consider the energy footprint of the warehouse.

FLOWER (Frugal Logistics Operations With an Energy Oracle), is a 4-year collaborative project in which Savoye, a French intermediate-sized company leader in ASRS systems, join forces with LISPEN (ENSAM) and DISP (INSA Lyon) to design and demonstrate a control algorithm to minimize the energy consumption of logistics platforms.

This solution will be based on bi-objective optimization algorithms (flow + energy) co-developed with DISP as well as on an energy expenditure prediction oracle based on machine learning co-developed with LISPEN based on data generated by physical simulations from Savoye. The new algorithm will be tested on an in-silico prototype and an in-situ one with Savoye.

This work will advance the state of the art of operational research algorithms and propose avenues for the use of simulations on digital twins in real time through the use of AI approximation methods (reduction of models).

Our ambition is to reduce the energy expenditure of logistics centers by 45% on average over a year of operation with this new algorithm (estimate based on a 1-year pre-study between Savoye and LISPEN). Savoye and its partners will lead the way toward more frugal operations in the logistics industry.