Self-adaptive Smart Materials: A new Agent-based Approach

Load-bearing engineering structures typically have a static shape fixed during design based on expected usage and associated load cases. But neither can all possible loading situations be foreseen, nor could this large set of conditions be reflected in a practical design methodology—and even if either was possible, the result could only be the best compromise and thus deviate significantly from the optimum solution for any specific load case. In contrast, a structure that could change its local properties in service based on the identified loading situation could potentially raise additional weight saving potentials and thus support lightweight design, and in consequence, sustainability. Materials of this kind would necessarily exhibit a cellular architecture consisting of active cells with sensing and actuation capabilities. Suitable control mechanisms both in terms of algorithms and hardware units would form an integral part of these. A major issue in this context is correlated control of actuators and informational organization meeting real-time and and robustness requirements. In this respect, the present study discusses a two-stage approach combining mobile & reactive Multi-agent Systems (MAS) and Machine Learning. While MAS will negotiate property redistribution, machine learning shall recognise known load cases and suggest matching property fields directly.