Model-based development of a multi-agent system for controlling material flow systems

2018 ◽  
Vol 66 (5) ◽  
pp. 438-448 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliane Fischer ◽  
Marga Marcos ◽  
Birgit Vogel-Heuser
Keyword(s):  
Decentralized Control ◽  
Flexible Manufacturing ◽  
Material Flow ◽  
Manufacturing Systems ◽  
Multi Agent System ◽  
Control Task ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Control Approach ◽  
Flow Systems ◽  
Multi Agent

Abstract The rising number of product variants requires flexible manufacturing systems, including their internal material flow systems (MFSs). An approach to design MFSs reconfigurably is the use of a decentralized control based on software agents. For implementing an agent-based control approach for MFSs this paper presents a meta model describing the knowledge base of individual agents and the overall control task to be fulfilled by the MFS.

scholarly journals Ant Colony Intelligence in Flexible Manufacturing Scheduling Using Contract-Net Model

2011 ◽  
Vol 2-3 ◽  
pp. 608-613
Author(s):  
Ying Zi Wei ◽  
Yi Jun Feng ◽  
Kan Feng Gu
Keyword(s):  
Flexible Manufacturing ◽  
Manufacturing Systems ◽  
Ant Colony ◽  
Contract Net Protocol ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Contract Net ◽  
Multi Agent ◽  
Bidding Mechanism ◽  
Alternative Processes ◽  
Alternative Machines

This paper builds an efficient agent-based flexible scheduling for real-world manufacturing systems. Considering the alternative processes and alternative machines, the allocation of manufacturing resources is achieved through negotiation among the job and machine agents in a multi-agent system (MAS). Ant Colony Intelligence (ACI) is proposed to be combined with Contract Net Protocol (CNP) so as to make agents adaptive to changing circumstances. ACI is integrated into both machine agents and job agents to solve the task allocation and sequencing problem. CNP is introduced to allow the agents to cooperate and coordinate their local schedules in order to find globally near-optimal robust schedules. The negotiation protocol is an interactive bidding mechanism based on the hybrid contract net protocol. The implementation of the issues using CNP model is discussed. Experimental results verify the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed algorithm integrated with ant-inspired coordination.

Frequency Control Based on Multi-Agent System in Islanded Microgrid

2012 ◽  
Vol 614-615 ◽  
pp. 1754-1758
Author(s):  
Bai Liang Liu ◽  
Xue Liang Huang ◽  
Jun Li
Keyword(s):  
Frequency Control ◽  
Multi Agent System ◽  
Agent System ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Distributed Generations ◽  
Control Approach ◽  
Micro Power ◽  
Multi Agent ◽  
Islanded Microgrid ◽  
Different Characteristics

Islanded microgrid is an independent micro power system. The system has different kinds of distributed generations with different characteristics. The islanded microgrid makes its frequence control more difficult than the conventional grids. This presents a multi-agent based frequency control approach for islanded microgrid and discusses the characteristics of agents. The hierarchical multi-agent control framework is also proposed. The simulation results show that even in emergency conditions, the proposed frequency control approach based multi-agent system can maintain the frequency stability of islanded microgrid.

Agent-Based Micro Machining System With Cusp-Height-Minimized Tool Sequence

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyung-Hoon Wie ◽  
Hyung-Jung Kim ◽  
Young-Sun Hong ◽  
Sung-Hoon Ahn
Keyword(s):  
Cost Estimation ◽  
Manufacturing Systems ◽  
Micro Machining ◽  
Multi Agent System ◽  
Agent System ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Development Framework ◽  
Macro Scale ◽  
Machining System ◽  
Multi Agent

Agent technology can provide a systematic way to design and implement efficiently distributed intelligent manufacturing systems. Multi-agent system has been recognized as a promising paradigm to integrate a number of agents with different functions. In micro machining field many researchers have been studied the machining characteristics since the influence of underlying mechanisms are fundamentally different from macro-scale machining. This paper presents an agent-based micro machining system. To cover the process planning step for micro machining, basic agents such as cutting tool selection, tool-path generation, and machining cost estimation were implemented. To build and integrate these distributed agents, Java Agent Development Framework (JADE) was used. Throughout this system the selection of optimal roughing tool for semi-finishing stage was implemented by providing automated process planner for micro machining to the engineers. Machining data bases were constructed to store the information of materials, tools, and capability of available machine tools. A designed part can be uploaded to the Micro Machining (MM) agent as a Stereo Lithography (STL) format. MM agent can provide process parameters for 3-axis micro milling and tool sequence for cost-optimal machining automatically. Machining Cost Estimation agent can calculate micro machining cost for the designed part. To test the multi-agent system, a surface of micro-surface feature was fabricated with micro end-mills.

Adaptive Simulation of Automated Guided Vehicle Systems Using Multi Agent Based Approach for Supplying Materials

2014 ◽  
Vol 474 ◽  
pp. 79-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angéla Rinkács ◽  
András Gyimesi ◽  
Gábor Bohács
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Physical System ◽  
Material Flow ◽  
Automated Guided Vehicle ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Adaptive Simulation ◽  
Modeling Problem ◽  
Vehicle Systems ◽  
Flow Systems ◽  
Multi Agent

Application of agent based approaches is frequent in systems with artificial intelligence. This method has been used in simulations as well, however application in this field is rather novel. The paper surveys formation possibilities of agent based structures in the simulation of an example material flow systems. Further, considerations are also presented, how these models can be made adaptive, which makes them capable of continuously modify their features to the modeled physical system. Finally a framework for a proposed modeling problem is introduced.

scholarly journals A GENETIC APPROACH FOR LONG TERM VIRTUAL ORGANIZATION DISTRIBUTION

2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (02) ◽  
pp. 271-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
VÍCTOR SÁNCHEZ-ANGUIX ◽  
SOLEDAD VALERO ◽  
ANA GARCÍA-FORNES
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Algorithm ◽  
Virtual Organization ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Multi Agent System ◽  
Crossover Operator ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Multi Agent ◽  
Global Goal ◽  
Computational Resources

An agent-based Virtual Organization is a complex entity where dynamic collections of agents agree to share resources in order to accomplish a global goal or offer a complex service. An important problem for the performance of the Virtual Organization is the distribution of the agents across the computational resources. The final distribution should provide a good load balancing for the organization. In this article, a genetic algorithm is applied to calculate a proper distribution across hosts in an agent-based Virtual Organization. Additionally, an abstract multi-agent system architecture which provides infrastructure for Virtual Organization distribution is introduced. The developed genetic solution employs an elitist crossover operator where one of the children inherits the most promising genetic material from the parents with higher probability. In order to validate the genetic proposal, the designed genetic algorithm has been successfully compared to several heuristics in different scenarios.

A Model for Cooperative Design Based on Multi-Agent System

2011 ◽  
Vol 65 ◽  
pp. 160-164
Author(s):  
Na Li ◽  
Yi Guo
Keyword(s):  
Information Exchange ◽  
Multi Agent System ◽  
Design Environment ◽  
Knowledge Processing ◽  
Cooperative Design ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Design Activities ◽  
Multi Agent ◽  
Design Result

Distributed cooperative design is carried out by teams located at different places. The regional limitation must be overcome to facilitate information exchange, knowledge processing, and design result exchange, etc., among the teams. This paper proposes a multi-agent based model for cooperative design. The model consists of five types of agents according to cooperative design environment and design activities. Integrated fine grained security mechanism into different agents is the major feature of this model.

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