536 research outputs found
Design and implementation of a function block-based holonic control architecture for a new generation flexible manufacturing system
In this research work a control architecture which gives response to the
requirements of new generation of flexible manufacturing systems in terms
of flexibility, reconfigurability, robustness and autonomy is designed and
implemented. To do so the main principles of the Holonic Manufacturing
paradigm are applied using the IEC61499 function block (FB) technology.
Unlike other similar research proposals, in this work FBs are not relegated
to low-level control but are used to model manufacturing execution and
control high-level control tasks. This is done with the objective of
evaluating the viability of using FBs to develop holonic architectures in
comparison to more established technologies like multi-agent systems.
Moreover, the proposed control architecture also focuses on better
integrating and exploiting the products’ information to enhance its
flexibility and adaptability. For this STEP-NC (ISO14649) is used to model
richer process plans which include manufacturing alternatives and could be
easily integrated in the control itself
A generic holonic control architecture for heterogeneous multi-scale and multi-objective smart microgrids
Designing the control infrastructure of future “smart” power grids is a challenging task. Future grids will integrate a wide variety of heterogeneous producers and consumers that are unpredictable and operate at various scales. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions will have to control these in order to attain global objectives at the macrolevel, while also considering private interests at the microlevel. This article proposes a generic holonic architecture to help the development of ICT control systems that meet these requirements. We show how this architecture can integrate heterogeneous control designs, including state-of-the-art smart grid solutions. To illustrate the applicability and utility of this generic architecture, we exemplify its use via a concrete proof-of-concept implementation for a holonic controller, which integrates two types of control solutions and manages a multiscale, multiobjective grid simulator in several scenarios. We believe that the proposed contribution is essential for helping to understand, to reason about, and to develop the “smart” side of future power grids
Ready configuration of machines into an existing manufacturing system
This paper focuses on simplifying and easing the integration of a new machine into an existing conventional hierarchical manufacturing system. Based on a distributed manufacturing paradigm, it proposes the functions and interfaces that a new machine and an existing manufacturing system should possess so that ready and simple configuration of additional machines can be achieved. The configuration process is intended to include, not only mechanical and electrical interfaces, but also decision system interfaces (such as planning, scheduling, and shop-floor control). Preliminary laboratory experiments to compare the reconfigurability resulting from a conventional integration method and the proposed distributed method are presented and discussed. © 2007 ISAM
Dpws middleware to support agent-based manufacturing control and simulation
Dissertação apresentada na Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Electrotécnica e de ComputadoresIn present manufacturing systems, the current challenge is the development of highly reconfigurable, truly distributed solutions. The tendency is to build manufacturing systems with autonomous, intelligent and distributed components that will support reconfiguration and
adaptability. The most promising paradigms for the implementation of such systems are
multi-agents and service oriented architectures (SOA), mainly over the DPWS (Device Profile for Web Services) implementation which was aimed at devices.
An important limitation of most current multi-agent systems is that the management
system is not totally distributed. Failure in the agent responsible for the registry can
overthrow the entire system. DPWS does not have this limitation, since the management
system is totally distributed. However, DPWS does not support agent autonomy notions as
efficiently.
The possibility of creating a truly distributed multi-agent system by linking both approaches led to this thesis. A Middleware layer was developed that enables agents to benefit from DPWS functionalities in order to reach the proposed goal. This middleware layer joins agents, databases, hardware, simulators, human interface applications such as production system management, error correction and maintenance, etc. To prove this concept a 3D model of an agent controlled manufacturing system with transporters augmented with DPWS
communication interfaces was developed
Status and Future of Manufacturing Execution Systems
This paper proposes a taxonomy for characterizing manufacturing execution systems and discusses how they can benefit from the recent Developments of Industry 4.0. The study is based on a literature review. The taxonomy contributes to theory and practice by providing a framework for benchmarking of manufacturing execution systems. The taxonomy can be utilized in the selection or design process of the manufacturing execution systems. Outlining the further opportunities provided by Industry 4.0 technologies, the paper also provides directions for future improvements of manufacturing execution systems.acceptedVersio
Status and Future of Manufacturing Execution Systems
This paper proposes a taxonomy for characterizing manufacturing execution systems and discusses how they can benefit from the recent Developments of Industry 4.0. The study is based on a literature review. The taxonomy contributes to theory and practice by providing a framework for benchmarking of manufacturing execution systems. The taxonomy can be utilized in the selection or design process of the manufacturing execution systems. Outlining the further opportunities provided by Industry 4.0 technologies, the paper also provides directions for future improvements of manufacturing execution systems.acceptedVersio
Enhanced cell controller for aerospace manufacturing
Aerospace manufacturing industry is unique in that production typically focuses on high variety and quality but extremely low volume. Manufacturing processes are also sometimes unique and not repeatable and, hence, costly. Production is getting more expensive with the introduction of industrial robots and their cells. This paper describes the development of the Flexa Cell Coordinator (FCC), a system that is providing a solution to manage resources at assembly cell level. It can control, organise and coordinate between the resources and is capable of controlling remote cells and resources because of its distributed nature. It also gives insight of a system to the higher management via its rich reporting facility and connectivity with company systems e.g., Enterprise Resource Planner (ERP). It is able to control various kinds of cells and resources (network based) which are not limited to robots and machines. It is extendable and capable of adding multiple numbers of cells inside the system. It also provides the facility of scheduling the task to avoid the deadlocking in the process. In FCC resources (e.g., tracker) can also be shared between cells
Skill-based reconfiguration of industrial mobile robots
Caused by a rising mass customisation and the high variety of equipment versions, the
exibility of manufacturing systems in car productions has to be increased. In addition to
a
exible handling of production load changes or hardware breakdowns that are established
research areas in literature, this thesis presents a skill-based recon guration mechanism
for industrial mobile robots to enhance functional recon gurability.
The proposed holonic multi-agent system is able to react to functional process changes
while missing functionalities are created by self-organisation. Applied to a mobile commissioning
system that is provided by AUDI AG, the suggested mechanism is validated
in a real-world environment including the on-line veri cation of the recon gured robot
functionality in a Validity Check.
The present thesis includes an original contribution in three aspects: First, a recon -
guration mechanism is presented that reacts in a self-organised way to functional process
changes. The application layer of a hardware system converts a semantic description into
functional requirements for a new robot skill. The result of this mechanism is the on-line
integration of a new functionality into the running process.
Second, the proposed system allows maintaining the productivity of the running process
and
exibly changing the robot hardware through provision of a hardware-abstraction
layer. An encapsulated Recon guration Holon dynamically includes the actual con guration
each time a recon guration is started. This allows reacting to changed environment
settings. As the resulting agent that contains the new functionality, is identical in shape
and behaviour to the existing skills, its integration into the running process is conducted
without a considerable loss of productivity.
Third, the suggested mechanism is composed of a novel agent design that allows implementing
self-organisation during the encapsulated recon guration and dependability
for standard process executions. The selective assignment of behaviour-based and cognitive
agents is the basis for the
exibility and e ectiveness of the proposed recon guration
mechanism
An improved cell controller for the aerospace manufacturing
The aerospace manufacturing industry is unique in that production typically focuses on high variety and quality but low volume. Existing flexible manufacturing cells are limited to certain types of machines, robots and cells which makes it difficult to introduce any changes. In this paper idea of treating machines, robots, any hardware and software as resource has been introduced. It describes the development of the Flexa Cell Coordinator (FCC), a system that is providing a solution to manage cells and their resources in a new flexible manner. It can control, organise and coordinate between cells and resources and is capable of controlling remote cells because of its distributed nature. It also provides connectivity with company systems e.g., Enterprise Resource Planner (ERP). It is extendable and capable of adding multiple cells inside the system. In FCC resources (e.g., tracker) can also be shared between cells. The paper presents its development and results of initial successful testing
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