Resting zones

Resting zones are a useful component that allows to automatically move vehicles that are idle to a defined area on the map. These zones are easily configurable by the user and can be combined with entry and exit presets to allow the user to fully customize the behavior of their fleet.

Create a resting zone

1. In the Map editor, click Add zones on map in the side toolbar and choose the Rectangle tool.
2. Select Resting zone as the Type and fill the settings:
   • Vehicle category: only robots of the selected categories can use the zone. Choose at least one.
   • Zone safety parameter (meters): the margin, in metres, around the resting station that is shown as the resting zone.
   • Priority: makes this resting zone preferred over resting zones with a lower priority.
   • Vehicle limit: the number of robots that can be assigned to the resting zone at the same time.
   • Entry preset (optional): a mission preset the robot runs when it enters the zone.
   • Exit preset (optional): a mission preset the robot runs when it leaves the zone.
3. Click Create zone and draw the zone on the map.

To change the settings later, click the zone on the map.

Resting zone functionality

Resting zones are a powerful tool that can be used to reduce congestion and possible deadlocks with idle vehicles.

When a vehicle goes to a resting zone

Meili FMS sends a vehicle to a resting zone automatically when:

• It has been idle after a mission. Once a vehicle finishes its last mission and has no other missions assigned, it waits for the time set in Time to resting zone after mission and then moves to a resting zone. Uncheck that setting to turn this off. If Move to charging zone after timeout is enabled, idle vehicles go to a charging zone instead.
• It has finished charging, if Move to resting zone when charge is enabled. This frees the charger for other vehicles.
• It gives its charger to another vehicle, if Enable charging slot release is enabled. See Charging.
• It needs to charge but all chargers are busy. It waits in a resting zone until a charger becomes free.

All these settings are in the Mission management tab of Site settings. A vehicle that is already in a resting or charging zone stays where it is.

Which resting zone is chosen

Meili only considers resting zones that accept the vehicle’s category, haven’t reached their Vehicle limit and aren’t already reserved by another vehicle. If any of them has a Priority higher than 0, the one with the highest priority is chosen. Otherwise, the vehicle goes to the closest one along its route. Zones on other floors of the team are also considered.

Entry and exit presets

When an entry or exit preset is attached, the FMS will automatically generate a mission that moves the robot to the zone and performs the desired preset. For the general steps to add and edit zones, see Zones.