Intelligent Machine Tools in a Distributed Network Manufacturing Mode Environment

Manufacturing enterprises are facing serious challenges and pressures from the growing globalisation of the economy and the market as well as from the rapid developments of science and technology. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), especially, have to reform their traditional manufacturing methods by using advanced technologies, particularly by applying information technology (IT) to succeed in the increasingly intense competition for markets. Thus, it is of great importance for them to accept the concept of agile manufacturing. For this purpose, the concept of distributed network manufacturing mode (DNMM) is outlined in this paper. In DNMM, research is concentrated on enhancing the intelligence of conventional numerical control (NC) machine tools and their ability to communicate and coordinate with the outside world. The experimental results of the distributed network manufacturing prototype system (DNMPS) show that the concept of the DNMM is correct and feasible. Moreover, the intelligent CNC system developed enhances the ability of the conventional NC milling machine to improve machining efficiency and quality, and protect the cutting tool. The capability for communicating and collaborating are improved for system integration, resource-sharing and cooperation.     

基于Agent分布式网络化制造模式的研究

从市场竞争、客户化生产需求和企业的价值取向等方面讨论了制造模式变革的必然性。提出了一种分布式网络化的制造模式,并通过原型系统实现了所提出的构想,并进行了相应的实验研究。最后提出了对我国制造业变革的几点思考。     

分布式网络化研究中心及其在敏捷制造中的应用

计算机技术、网络技术和信息技术的发展为分布式网络化研究中心的诞生创造了技术条件。本文结合我国国情,分析了分布式网络化研究中心的重大作用、体系结构及其在敏捷制造中的应用,希望为我国科研工作的开展做些有益的探索。     

Agent- and CORBA-Based Application Integration Platform for an Agile Manufacturing Environment

A new application integration platform for an agile manufacturing environment is presented, which is based on agent and common request broker architecture (CORBA). CORBA enhances the system integration because it is an industry-standard for interoperable, distributed objects across heterogeneous hardware and software platforms. Agent technology is used to improve the intelligence of the integration system. The platform is open, distributed, and modular to enable the user to adapt its content to his requirements. This application integration platform supports the goals of agile manufacturing: rapid response to changing requirements, reduction in both time and cost of the product realisation process, and integration within a heterogeneous, wide-area-networked enterprise. In order to implement the application integration platform, we use a network integration server to integrate the network, design a generic database agent to integrate database, adopt a multi-agent based architecture to integrate application, and utilise a wrapper as a CORBA object to integrate the legacy code. Finally, a prototype framework is presented. ID="A1"Correspondance and offprint requests to: Dr F. T. S. Chan, Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong. E-mail: ftschan@hkucc.hku.hk     

Integrated Production Model in Agile Manufacturing Systems

To reach the goals of quick response to customers’ needs and increasing the flexibility of producing goods, we integrate "push" and "pull" production models, which are the most popular production systems nowadays, for controlling automated manufacturing systems. This integrated production model can best be applied in an agile manufacturing environment. Push systems, involving MRP calculations, are the basis of distributing materials to the plant. Pull systems the so-called just-in-time (JIT) systems, produce products that exactly meet customers requirements. By introducing the concept of the theory of constraints (TOC) and optimised production technology (OPT), the integrated production model is made possible. Optimised production technology, based on the theory of constraints is the most important theory for manipulating constraint resources in a production line employing both the push and pull concepts. By merging these two fundamental principles, an integrated push and pull production paradigm is developed. This work aims at finding a production model for manufacturers to apply in continuously and unanticipated changing competitive environments. ID="A1" Correspondence and offprint requests to: Dr H.-H. Huang, Department of Industrial Management, National Pintung University of Science and Technology, 1 Hseuh-Fu Road, Nei-Pu Hsiang, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan. E-mail: hhuang@mail.npust.edu.tw     

Application of an Autonomous Agent Network to Support the Architecture of a Holonic Manufacturing System

To remain a competitive force in the world market, manufacturing enterprises must design and produce new products in an effective way. To reduce the product launching time, manufacturing enterprises must be versatile, open to changes, and capable of designing and modifying their own facilities and processes efficiently for the design of new products. In this context, the concept of autonomous, adaptive, cognitive and cooperating entities known as "holons" is conceived which leads to the evolution of a holonic manufacturing system (HMS) where highly distributed control paradigms are adopted to alleviate the problems related to frequent process disturbances. In order to streamline the functioning of an HMS, it is necessary to form an efficient, flexible and responsive network of agents, which are intra-holonic entities that inherit the same characteristics as the holons. This network of agents can be termed an autonomous agent network. The agent is formed by the parties, which are the functional units of the holonic manufacturing system. The aim of this paper is to specify the communication protocols and subsequently synthesise and cluster the individual parties into autonomous agents in accordance with the basic constraints of a holonic manufacturing system. Here a fuzzy c-means clustering algorithm is proposed to club the parties to capture effectively the uncertainty and imprecision associated with them. Besides the grouping of the parties to form agents, the proposed fuzzy-based clustering algorithm ensures that the agents formed are more amenable to the dynamic environment prevailing on the shop floor of present day automated manufacturing systems and thus makes the essence of a holonic manufacturing system successful . Keeping in mind the imprecision, uncertainty, and conflicting nature of objectives, the proposed approach aptly models the problem, and its applicability is exemplified by a test problem. ID="A1"Correspondance and offprint requests to: M. K. Tiwari, Department of Manufacturing Engineering, National Institute of Foundry and Forge Technology, Hatia, Ranchi 834 003, India. E-mail: mkt09@hotmail.com     

串并联双机器人系统任务分配的蚁群优化

针对一种新型串并联双机器人联合作业系统的任务分配进行方法设计和整体优化。分别采用蚁群优化中的近似非确定性树搜索(Approximate nondeterministic tree search,ANTS)和最大最小蚂蚁系统(Max-min-ant-system,MMAS)作为任务分配的优化策略,并在MMAS中加入局部搜索以进一步优化路径构建过程中得到的局部最优解。仿真结果以及与之前相关研究成果的对比表明,MMAS在寻优过程中的迭代收敛速度优于ANTS,且经过一段时间的开发探索之后,获得的最优解的质量也比ANTS要好;MMAS与局部搜索相结合的方法比单独使用MMAS更加进一步提高了最终解的质量。进化曲线证明了算法对系统任务分配及优化的适应性和优越性。试验结果经与传统组合优化方法对比,进一步验证了算法的优化效果。     

Coalition formation and its application in planning for agile manufacturing cell

Coalition formation has been an active area of research that has attracted both theoretical and practical researchers in the areas of economics, distributed artificial intelligence (DAI), computer systems and some other industrial applications. As an effective mechanism, it has an emergent characteristic of being suitable for solving cooperation problems in both complex and dynamic environments. While task planning of agile manufacturing cell (AMC) is to dynamically allocate tasks on the level of manufacturing cells, where two types of coalitions are formed. In view of the linkage between them, the idea of coalition formation is applied in the planning of AMC. In this paper, a framework of AMC planning is presented, based on which, a planning method of AMC by searching for coalition structure is introduced in detail. In addition, a case study is carried out.     

敏捷制造模式下质量信息系统的重构方法研究

敏捷制造中最显著的特点是动态联盟的变化性和快速响应。本文研究了基于ｗｅｂ浏览器的质量信息系统运行方式。使用Ｉｎｔｅｒｎｅｔ数据库连接器实现网络上的结构化信息的交流传输。在研究了质量信息系统重构内容的基础上,讨论了质量信息系统的重构方法     

网络制造信息安全

根据网络化制造中网络的特点，论述了网络制造中的信息安全问题，提出了基于防火墙、IPSec,TLS/SSL和PKI／CA等技术的解决方案，阐述了网络管理中的安全问题。     

网络化制造模式下的CAPP技术研究

在网络化制造模式下研究了CAPP系统的体系结构，并探讨了这一体系结构所涉及的基于Web的浏览器／服务器处理技术、ASP／ADO技术、ActiveX控件技术等的具体应用。在此基础上，研究了实现该CAPP系统的关键技术，包括建立基于Internet的通用化零件信息输入机制、通用化派生式工艺设计方法和通用化创成式工艺设计方法等。最后，开发了相应的原型系统，即NME－CAPP系统，并通过实例对原型系统进行了实用性测试，证明系统运行可靠、方便。     

数控加工信息网络存储制造平台的开发

建立数控加工信息网络存储制造平台可实现生产车间数控加工信息的网络存储共享和集成。提高数控加工的柔性和敏捷性。本文利用以太网技术及数据库技术对数控加工信息进行提取和数据抽象,构造的平台可存储数控设备、数控程序、加工刀具和加工任务等信息。平台可以实时监测。管理多台数控设备,具有快速可靠的数据处理和高级数据保护功能。     

虚拟加工在网络联盟中的应用

针对网络联盟的特点和虚拟加工在网络联盟中应用的前景，采用一种改进的实体模型保存工件的物理 信息，实现物理信息在加工单元间的交换。即工件的实体数据中不仅包含工件的几何信息，而且包括虚 拟加工时所必需的物理性质信息及工件加工后的误差信息，在此基础上提出了“拟实体”的概念。该方 法实现了虚拟加工的高真感仿真，克服了以往的虚拟加工软件无工件物理信息和工件的成品信息的缺 陷，增强了软件的沉浸感。     

制造网络集成平台技术研究

制造网络集成平台是制造网络系统构建与运行的支撑平台。在讨论了制造网络集成平台的应用需求、定义与基本特征的基础上，提出了一种建立在多代理系统协调控制框架与支撑工具基础上的制造网络集成平台系统体系结构，给出了制造网络集成平台的主要功能。研究了基于制造网络集成平台的制造网络系统的运行模式和应用集成机制，并提出了以代理封装实现制造网络集成平台环境下应用集成的方法和基本原理。     

制造系统中任务分配的自适应Agent模型

为实现在保持高生产率的前提下对环境变化的快速响应,提出一个基于自适应Agent的模型,研究了制造系统中最常见的任务在加工资源上的分配问题。设计了在多智能体系中分别代表加工资源、任务和协调者的三类Agent,以及它们在各自利益驱下所应遵循的行为规则,并采用了局部与全局的双层强化学习机制,以保证整个系统的行为朝着预期的优化方向演化,适应环境的改变。最后,给出了一处以车间调度为背景的仿真示例,在环境变化（如产品需求改变或机器故障）的情况下,系统能够自动地产生满意的任务分配策略。     

网络环境下三维参数化冲裁模标准件图形库

论述以 Solid Works为平台的三维网络图形数据库的开发 ,以及建立标准件库的思想和方法 ,实现了在Solid Works中对模具标准件的快速绘制与显示。提出了基于 STEP标准的跨平台异种 CAD系统的通用标准件库的开发思想 ,分析了分布式网络化图形库的建立、实现方法     

网络制造中数据传输和交换的信息安全

分析了网络制造信息安全的特殊性以及目前普遍采用的信息安全技术所存在的缺陷，提出了适合网络制造的数据交换和传输的体系结构，应用密码技术、SSL协议和VPN技术实现网络制造的数据交换和传输的安全性。     

应急装备制造网络的动态资源配置

针对应急装备制造过程的高波动性、高时效性特点,建立了多层制造服务网络模型,并提出基于排队理论的制造网络节点动态资源配置策略,以保证制造资源的合理使用与客户放弃概率的稳定可控.基于不同的制造网络服务目标水平,分别提出了制造网络节点资源动态调节的近似算法和数值解法.通过数值算例的仿真分析,验证了该方法可有效控制并稳定制造系...     

中国制造业网络化的几种发展途径及比较

网络技术正在对制造业发生深刻的影响，例如，中国制造业网络化正在由下而上迅速发展。其发展途径主要包括行业网络化的发展、区域网络化的发展及行业和区域网络化的集成发展。本文对上述发展途径进行了分析和比较。研究表明，行业和区域网络化可以起互补作用，两者应分别有自己的主攻方向，前者起深化网络化内容的作用，后者起扩展网络化范围的作用。最后对这些发展方向分别进行了讨论。     

建立制造技术信息网络实施产品制造绿色通道

首先阐述制造业信息化的内涵，指出建立CAD／CAM／CNC一体化制造自动化网络系统，其根本目的是减少浪费和提高效益，使我国制造业更加具有竞争力。然后介绍了柳工的企业制造网络CAD／CAM／CNC一体化的发展应用及产生的效益，并对柳工通过制造信息化改造传统产业的前景进行了展望。