A novel approach for multi-agent-based Intelligent Manufacturing System

In the recent years, the competition of shortening the development cycle of new products is more and more fierce. Given the shortcomings of traditional scheduling algorithm in Intelligent Manufacturing, the architecture of multi-agent-based Intelligent Manufacturing System is put forward, which represents the basic processing entity. The architecture is based on the methodology of multi-agent systems (MAS) in distributed artificial intelligence (DAI). The multi-agent system has some common characteristics, such as distribution, autonomy, interaction and openness, which are helpful to transform the traditional architecture into a distributed and cooperative architecture in an Intelligent Manufacturing System. To develop a multi-agent-based scheduling system for Intelligent Manufacturing, it is necessary to build various functional agents for all the resources and an agent manager to improve the scheduling agility. In this paper, the proposed architecture consists of various autonomous agents that are capable of communicating with each other and making decisions based on their knowledge. The architecture of Intelligent Manufacturing, the scheduling optimization algorithm, the negotiation processes and protocols among the agents are described in detail. A prototype system is built and validated in an illustrative example, which demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed approach. The experiments prove that the implementation of multi-agent technology in Intelligent Manufacturing System makes the operations much more flexible, economical and energy-efficient.     

Multi-agent Mediator architecture for distributed manufacturing

A generic Mediator architecture for distributed task planning and coordination has been developed using multi-agent paradigms. In this approach, agents function autonomously as independent computing processes, and dynamic virtual clusters coordinate the agent's activities and decision making. This coordination involves dynamically created coordination agents and resource agents concurrently. The Mediator architecture contains three levels of these coordination agents: the template mediator, the data-agent manager, and the active mediator. The template mediator is the top-level global coordinator. This agent contains both the templates and the cloning mechanism to create the successively lower-level agents. Task plans are decomposed successively into subtasks, which are allocated to dynamically created agent clusters coordinated through data-agent managers and active mediators. Coordination of agent activity takes place both among the clusters and within each cluster. The system dynamically adapts to evolving manufacturing tasks, with virtual agent clusters being created as needed, and destroyed when their tasks are completed. The mediator architecture and related mechanisms are demonstrated using an intelligent manufacturing scheduling application. Both the machines and the parts involved in this production system are considered as intelligent agents. These agents use a common language protocol based on the Knowledge Query Manipulation Language (KQML). The generic Mediator approach can be used for other distributed organizational systems beyond the intelligent manufacturing application it was originally developed for.     

Using multi-agent architecture in FMS for dynamic scheduling

The proposed scheduling strategy is based on a multi-agent architecture. Each agent of this architecture is dedicated to a work centre (i.e. a set of resources of the manufacturing system); it selects locally and dynamically the most suitable dispatching rules. Depending on local and global considerations, a new selection is carried out each time a predefined event occurs (for example, a machine becomes available, or a machine breaks down). The selection depends on: (1) primary and secondary performance objectives, (2) the operating conditions, and (3) an analysis of the system state, which aims to detect particular symptoms from the values of certain system variables. We explain how the scheduling strategy is shared out between agents, how each agent performs a local dynamic scheduling by selecting an adequate dispatching rule, and how agents can coordinate their actions to perform a global dynamic scheduling of the manufacturing system. Each agent can be implemented through object-oriented formalisms. The selection method is improved through the optimization of the numerical thresholds used in the detection of symptoms. This approach is compared with the use of SPT, SIX, MOD, CEXSPT and CR/SPT on a jobshop problem, already used in other research works. The results indicate significant improvements.     

基于智能Agent的网络安全监控系统的研究

提出了一种称为IA－NSM（网络安全监控的智能Agent)的全新方案，它基于智能Agent技术，用于监控和管理Intranet环境下内部结点。IA－NSM是在传统的网络环境中集成了一个灵活的多Agent系统，从而加强了对受控结点非法行为的防范能力，介绍了基于智能Agent技术的网络安全监控系统的应用背景，系统功能，Agent分类和系统模型以及安全策略的制定原则。     

多智能体车间调度系统研究

现在制造业所面临的动态需求使得其必须具有更加灵活的应变机制，这使得车间调度问题变得越来越复杂。本文采取多智能体系统技术（MAS）设计了一个包含四个智能体（agent）的多智能体车间调度系统，分别为车间调度智能体、任务分配智能体、车间资源智能体以及拍卖智能体。通过这四个智能体的通信、交互和合作，系统可以给出一个满足当前制造需求的调度最优结果。     

多智能体粒子群算法在配电网络重构中的应用

结合多智能体的学习、协调策略及粒子群算法,提出了一种基于多智能体粒子群优化的配电网络重构方法。该方法采用粒子群算法的拓扑结构来构建多智能体的体系结构,在多智能体系统中,每一个粒子作为一个智能体,通过与邻域的智能体竞争、合作,能够更快、更精确地收敛到全局最优解。粒子的更新规则减少了算法不可行解的产生,提高了算法效率。实验结果表明,该方法具有很高的搜索效率和寻优性能。     

基于多Agent的I-MES在烟草企业中的实现

本文以面向敏捷企业的智能制造执行系统(I-MES)为研究对象,采用多Agent技术作为系统的实现形式,对系统的多Agent组织结构、系统中多Agent间的通信和协作机制以及多Agent的基于事件和周期的动态调度策略等理论问题和关键技术进行了研究,针对可集成制造执行系统中最常见的资源冲突问题,提出了一种基于多Agent合作的冲突消解模型;在此基础上针对敏捷环境下传统的制造执行系统的不足,以烟草企业这类流程性工艺企业为背景,基于多代理技术,构建了一个基于多代理具有开放性、集成性、动态性、敏捷性和可互操作的敏捷制造智能执行系统,     

A multi-agent architecture for control of AGV systems

Agent is an autonomous, computational entity that can be viewed as perceiving its environment and acting upon it. Agents are event-driven objects that can be integrated in automated manufacturing environments to control certain tasks. In this paper a set of agents (a multi-agent system) is introduced to control an automated manufacturing environment. The architecture includes functions at the manufacturing cell level, materials handling and transport level, and factory scheduling level. Communication between these agents is accomplished by using a relational database (blackboard system). The relational database also integrates the requirements of a manufacturing execution system within the multi-agent task structure, which is unique to this architecture. Manufacturing cell and scheduling agents have been previously described in the literature. Here we focus our attention on the functions of the agents of the transport system, which is composed of a set of AGVs.     

A multi-agent based approach to dynamic scheduling of machines and automated guided vehicles in manufacturing systems

In real manufacturing environments, the control of system elements such as automated guided vehicles has some difficulties when planning operations dynamically. Multi agent-based systems, a newly maturing area of distributed artificial intelligence, provide some effective mechanisms for the management of such dynamic operations in manufacturing environments. This paper proposes a multi-agent based scheduling approach for automated guided vehicles and machines within a manufacturing system. The proposed multi-agent based approach works under a real-time environment and generates feasible schedules using negotiation/bidding mechanisms between agents. This approach is tested on off-line scheduling problems from the literature. The results show that our approach is capable of generating good schedules in real time comparable with the optimization algorithms and the frequently used dispatching rules.     

Multi-Agent技术及应用

论文主要讨论了Multi-Agent(MA)技术的体系结构、协作机制、通信模式及任务分解等关键技术,阐述了MA技术在智能交通控制系统、多机器人系统、Internet网络管理、CIMS领域、软件工程领域及计算机仿真等领域的广泛应用前景。     

The model-based product agent: A control oriented architecture for intelligent products in multi-agent manufacturing systems

The multi-agent control strategy has been previously shown to improve the flexibility of complex, dynamic manufacturing systems. One key component of this strategy is the product agent. The product agent is responsible for autonomously guiding a physical part in the manufacturing system based on its production goals. Though the product agent has been described in previous works, a fully developed software architecture for the product agent that uses a model-based optimization approach has not been proposed. In this work, a product agent architecture with the capabilities to explore the local environment, plan and schedule events based on its knowledge, and request desired actions from the resources in the system is presented and tested.     

A hybrid multi-agent system architecture for enterprise integration using computer networks

The manufacturing industries are now experiencing fierce pressure of competition from every corner on this planet. In addition, the advancement in computer networks and information technologies has been gradually reshaping the manufacturing companies by shifting from the industrial age to the information era. Due to these elevated competitiveness and advanced computer technology, a number of new manufacturing and management strategies (e.g., CE or CIM) have emerged for the innovation of manufacturing enterprises. Although they have different definitions and scopes, there are several common issues: inter-enterprise functions integration; inter-enterprise resources integration; and collaboration. This paper proposes a new multi-agent system (MAS) architecture to support the inter-enterprise functions/resources integration and collaboration over the networked environment, including the hybrid agent architecture and hybrid network architecture. In contrast to the existing agent architectures, the proposed agent architecture enables agents to exhibit the hybrid (continuous and discrete) behavior and interactions. In addition, our network architecture is more suitable for building the large-scale distributed manufacturing systems that are prone to dynamic random changes of their environment. Based on the proposed MAS architecture, a collaborative product development environment is implemented as a starting point, and a multidisciplinary team-oriented design problem is illustrated to provide the vision of the proposed MAS architecture.     

A sales agent for part manufacturers: VMSA

The sales activity of most parts manufacturing companies is based on orders of buyers. The process of promotion, receipt and selection of orders of the parts manufacturers is closely coupled with the load status of the production lines. On deciding whether to accept an order or not, as well as negotiating with buyers, sales persons need information such as load and schedule of production lines, and manufacturability of the order. Manufacturability analysis, process planning, and scheduling are therefore key features in developing an agent of sales activity for the parts manufacturing business. In this paper, an intelligent agent, a virtual manufacturing-based sales agent (VMSA) with multi-agent architecture is proposed to support the sales activity for the parts manufacturers in the Internet environment. A VMSA has an integrated architecture of agent and virtual manufacturing. The prototype of VMSA has been developed for a machine parts manufacturing company that has lathe machines, drilling machines, cutting machines, and milling machines.     

Reactive multi-agent system for assembly cell control

This paper presents a multi-agent system for the control of manufacturing systems. The multi-agent system is designed to provide manufacturing control with three important characteristics: high robustness, quick response and good expandability. A prototype multi-agent-based control system has been developed for a flexible assembly cell as an example. The prototype multi-agent system contains several reactive agents. Each agent acts according to its built-in behaviours, and the behaviours are able to respond to stimuli from the manufacturing environment. A system architecture to implement the multi-agent-based control system is proposed and the coordination model of the reactive agents is developed. The generic agent structure is established for individual reactive agents, and the behaviours and the subsumption architecture of each agent are designed.     

基于多Agent的网络管理技术研究

将分布式人工智能中的智能Agent用于计算机网络管理,是近年来最活跃最前沿的研究领域之一。文章从分布式网络管理体系结构入手,基于多Agent的网络管理模型,以及多Agent之间的协调和协作等问题,研究了网络管理智能Agent的结构。     

Intelligent agent systems for manufacturing applications

Using the concept of intelligent agents, two system approaches are described for manufacturing applications. The first is based on the rule-based object (RBO) which is associated with a production-rules knowledge base and is implementable in an object-oriented development environment such as Smalltalk-80. A proof-of-concept automated guided vehicle (AGV) system of this kind has been recently developed. The second and more advanced approach is based on the intelligent agent object (IAO) and an AGV system of this kind is currently under development. This uses a multi-agent entity termed the modulon to handle more effectively both the co-operative planning task and the local route planning task.     

A multi-agent approach to process planning and fabrication in distributed manufacturing

In the paper a multi-agent approach to the development of a distributed manufacturing architecture is presented. An essential building block introduced here is the virtual work system (VWS) which represents a manufacturing work system in the information space. The VWS is structured as an autonomous agent and is a constituent entity of an agent network. In the network dynamic clusters of cooperating agents are solving manufacturing tasks. A machining work system and its VWS is demonstrated in a case study. Its role in the agent communication network is discussed in a process planning and fabrication domain.     

多Agent系统的技术研究

多Agent系统是由多个智能Agent组成的有机系统,这使得它具有比单个Agent更强大的处理能力。它表出自组织性、鲁棒性、分布性以及很强的复杂行为。文中论述了Agent和多Agent系统的有关理论、方法和技术。主要包括智能Agent的特性、结构和推理;介绍多Agent系统的体系结构分类和常见的几种通信机制;以及面向Agent的程序设计的现状和发展。     

ADK: An Agent Development Kit Based on a Formal Design Model for Multi-Agent Systems

The advent of multi-agent systems has brought us opportunities for the development of complex software that will serve as the infrastructure for advanced distributed applications. During the past decade, there have been many agent architectures proposed for implementing agent-based systems, and also a few efforts to formally specify agent behaviors. However, research on narrowing the gap between agent formal models and agent implementation is rare. In this paper, we propose a model-based approach to designing and implementing intelligent agents for multi-agent systems (MAS). Instead of using formal methods for the purpose of specifying agent behavior, we bring formal methods into the design phase of the agent development life cycle. Specifically, we use the formalism called agent-oriented G-net model, which is based on the G-net formalism (a type of high-level Petri net), to serve as the high-level design for intelligent agents. Based on the high-level design, we further derived the agent architecture and the detailed design for agent implementation. To demonstrate the feasibility of our approach, we developed the toolkit called ADK (Agent Development Kit) that supports rapid development of intelligent agents for multi-agent systems and we discuss the role of inheritance in agent-oriented development. As a potential solution for automated software development, we summarize the procedure to generate a model-based design of application-specific agents. Finally, to illustrate an application built on ADK, we present an air-ticket trading example.     

多Agent诊断系统中合作任务调度算法的实现

多Agent系统的核心问题是多Agent的合作和问题求解,在多Agent系统合作的调度算法中引入遗传算法,能更准确和更有效地进行问题求解。文中在介绍多Agent系统结构的基础上,分析了多Agent的合作问题以及基于遗传算法的调度算法,并在一个实用系统中实现了合作任务调度算法,达到了预期效果。