HOLONIC AND AGENT-BASED CONTROL

Abstract Currently industrial automation systems are built using a hierarchical top-down approach, yielding tightly coupled and low flexibility systems. Holonic and intelligent agent-based industrial control systems have the potential to be much more highly robust and flexible systems with very loose coupling between subsystems. This paper explores Rockwell Automation's current agent philosophy, application experience, and the obstacles to widespread adoption of agent technology in industrial automation systems.