A Multi-Agent Distributed Real-Time System for a Microprocessor Field-Bus Network

A new conception of a Multi--Agent Distributed Real-Time System (MAD--RTS) is presented comprising compiler, operating system kernel and communication tools. It allows for an uniform programming of complex process control systems on a microprocessor field--bus network. The key idea is to decompose the whole control task into small execution units, called agents which communicate by sending and executing contracts. The specification of the agents is done in an hardware independent language using the notion of states and guarded commands. At compile time the agents are distributed to specified target microprocessors. The system automatically translates each agent to the particular code and realizes the communication between the agents either on the same processor or through the field--bus. 1 Introduction Distributed systems on a microprocessor network connected by a field--bus are increasingly used in process control. Such systems now available at low prices will replace the "one for a..