Extending process automation systems with multi-agent techniques

This paper presents a design of a process automation system extended with multi-agent systems (MAS) and experiments with its implementation. According to this design, MAS can be used to extend the functionality of ordinary process automation systems at higher levels of control. Anticipated benefits of this include enhanced reconfigurability, responsiveness and flexibility of the resulting automation system. The design also takes into account particular characteristics of process automation. An agent platform for process automation is presented as a basis for applying MAS. A FIPA-compliant agent platform is extended with process automation specific functionality. The platform utilizes a hierarchical agent organization and a BDI-agent model. Two applications are implemented using the platform. One of these shows how the techniques of distributed planning can be applied in discrete control. The other provides a model for supervisory continuous control using the techniques of distributed search. Experiments performed with a laboratory test environment using the applications are presented. They are able to demonstrate the feasibility of the approach in test scenarios.

[1]  van Albertus Jozephus Nicolaas van Breemen Breemen.  Agent-Based Multi-Controller Systems - A design framework for complex control problems , 2001 .

[2]  Seppo Kuikka,et al.  A batch process management framework Domain-specific, design pattern and software component based approach , 1999 .

[3]  Duncan C. McFarlane,et al.  Rationales for Holonic Applications in Chemical Process Industries , 2001, Multi-Agent-Systems and Applications.

[4]  Reid G. Smith,et al.  The Contract Net Protocol: High-Level Communication and Control in a Distributed Problem Solver , 1980, IEEE Transactions on Computers.

[5]  Michael Luck,et al.  Multi-Agent Systems and Applications II , 2002, Lecture Notes in Computer Science.

[6]  Fredrik Ygge,et al.  Market-Oriented Programming and its Application to Power Load Management , 1998 .

[7]  Michael Wooldridge,et al.  Multiagent Systems for Manufacturing Control: A Design Methodology , 2010 .

[8]  Francisco P. Maturana,et al.  A Strategy to Implement and Validate Industrial Applications of Holonic Systems , 2005, HoloMAS.

[9]  Francisco P. Maturana,et al.  Using dynamically created decision-making organizations (holarchies) to plan, commit, and execute control tasks in a chilled water system , 2002, Proceedings. 13th International Workshop on Database and Expert Systems Applications.

[10]  Kari Koskinen,et al.  Agent-Based Architecture for Information Handling in Automation Systems , 2004, BASYS.

[11]  S. M. Deen,et al.  Agent Based Manufacturing , 2003 .

[12]  A. Halme,et al.  Modelling cooperative control in process automation with multi-agent systems , 2004, 2nd IEEE International Conference on Industrial Informatics, 2004. INDIN '04. 2004.

[13]  Martyn Fletcher,et al.  Fault‐tolerant holonic manufacturing systems , 2001, Concurr. Comput. Pract. Exp..

[14]  Michael Wooldridge,et al.  The Belief-Desire-Intention Model of Agency , 1998, ATAL.

[15]  Francisco P. Maturana,et al.  Industrial MAS for Planning and Control , 2001, Multi-Agent-Systems and Applications.

[16]  A.J.N. van Breemen,et al.  Design and implementation of a room thermostat using an agent-based approach , 2001 .

[17]  Stefan Bussmann,et al.  An agent-based approach to the control of flexible production systems , 2001, ETFA 2001. 8th International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation. Proceedings (Cat. No.01TH8597).

[18]  Kenwood H. Hall,et al.  Cost-Based Dynamic Reconfiguration System for Evolving Holarchies , 2003, HoloMAS.

[19]  Kenwood H. Hall,et al.  Experience with Holonic and Agent-Based Control Systems and Their Adoption by Industry , 2005, HoloMAS.

[20]  Kari Koskinen,et al.  Reactive and deliberative control and cooperation in multi-agent system based process automation , 2005, 2005 International Symposium on Computational Intelligence in Robotics and Automation.

[21]  Theodorus J.A. de Vries,et al.  An agent-based framework for designing multi-controller systems , 2000 .

[22]  D. McFarlane,et al.  Holonic Manufacturing Control: Rationales, Developments and Open Issues , 2003 .

[23]  Nicholas R. Jennings,et al.  Agent-based control systems , 2003 .

[24]  Hans Akkermans,et al.  Decentralized Markets versus Central Control: A Comparative Study , 1999, J. Artif. Intell. Res..

[25]  Ilkka Seilonen.  An extended process automation system : an approach based on a multi-agent system , 2006 .

[26]  Nicholas R. Jennings,et al.  Agent-based control systems: Why are they suited to engineering complex systems? , 2003 .