The Architecture of the NBS Factory Automation Research Testbed

Abstract A small batch manufacturing system testbed, currently under construction at the U.S. National Bureau of Standards (NBS), is designed to support research in factory automation standards. One of the expressed goals of the NBS Automated Manufacturing Research Facility (AMRF) project is the specification of the interfaces which must exist between component systems of automated factories. Undoubtedly, factories will eventually be constructed from modules that are offered as "plug conlpatible" products by different systems vendors. These vendors will need a standard factory model or system architecture for planning and implementing external interfaces to their proprietary systems. This paper discusses the AMRF factory architecture in terms of five major groups of subsystems: User Data Interface Devices, Hierarchical Manufacturing Management, Network Communications, Distributed Data Administration, and Shop Floor Hardware. Fundamental concepts and implementation architecture is presented for each group of subsystems