5/33
Weasel
®
Lite User Manual
Weasel
®
Lite User Manual
2
About the travel path
The travel path defines the course of your Weasel, the location of goods loading/unloading stations and
the rules the Weasels have to follow on their way. You can customize the travel path to meet your
specific requirements. Once your needs change, you can easily adjust your travel path to the new
situation. The following chapters will describe the rules you should follow when planning and
implementing your travel path.
2.1 Material flow planning
Before you design your travel path, you should have an idea of how the materials to be handled by your
Weasel vehicles are to be moved, i.e. definition of sources and sinks as well as the routes to be taken.
This is also referred to as the Material Flow, and you will certainly have an idea of how your material
flow will be based on your existing operational processes.
Sources
are locations where a transport demand arises. Your Weasels will be loaded with products
at these locations. Examples of sources include receiving areas, as well as production, assembly, or
picking areas, where goods for the warehouse or the shipping area are generated.
Sinks
are locations where the transports are finished. At these locations, the products on your
Weasels will unloaded. Examples of sinks include the shipping area, as well as production, assembly,
or picking areas, which need to be supplied with goods from the warehouse.
Locations used both as destinations for material transport and as places where a transport demand
arises are
Sources and Sinks
at the same time. Typical examples include production, assembly, or
picking areas, that require goods that have to be transported further.
All sources and sinks (including combinations) are considered as Stations in the Weasel system, i.e.
special locations in the travel path where materials enter or leave the system. We recommend that you
make a sketch and mark the positions of your stations. Perhaps you even have a drawing of the area
ready? Indicate which stations are sources, sinks or combinations of both. We also suggest that you
indicate the available transport routes between these stations, too. With this done, you can plan your
travel path.
