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The uniquely versatile autonomous mobile robot transportation system in focus of this study essentially works as such; an object to be transported is placed in a wall mounted and locked box. A robot is assigned to pick the object and dispatched by the logistic computer. The robot goes to the box unlocks it and takes the object inside its body, then travels to the destination, leaves the object into the box and locks it. Robot can also tow a bed, trailer etc.

The study presented in this thesis gives an introduction to transportation activities and automated internal transportation systems widely used at hospitals, develops a tool/method which can give decision-support in analyzing the logistic performance and capacity of an autonomous mobile robot internal transportation system. An important quality of the developed tool is that it can be used for other cases —for same purposes, than that has been experimented in this thesis.

Simulation and modeling is a critical technology when applied to complex transportation systems. Simulation-based analysis of this system aims at investigating its logistic performance and capacity. This study develops a high-fidelity simulation model of the logistic computer and other components in the logistic system using ExtendSim simulation environment. Additionally, the operating logic of logistic computer has also been designed, implemented and validated in the simulation model by the authors. This logic developed by the authors for logistic computer can be used in the software for real logistic computer in the system.

How the mentioned problem is approached and solved by the authors is thoroughly presented in this thesis.