A proposal of an architecture for the coordination level of intelligent machines

The issue of obtaining a practical, structured, and detailed description of an architecture for the Coordination Level of Center for Intelligent Robotic Systems for Sapce Exploration (CIRSSE) Testbed Intelligent Controller is addressed. Previous theoretical and implementation works were the departure point for the discussion. The document is organized as follows: after this introductory section, section 2 summarizes the overall view of the Intelligent Machine (IM) as a control system, proposing a performance measure on which to base its design. Section 3 addresses with some detail implementation issues. An hierarchic petri-net with feedback-based learning capabilities is proposed. Finally, section 4 is an attempt to address the feedback problem. Feedback is used for two functions: error recovery and reinforcement learning of the correct translations for the petri-net transitions

Petri Networks in the Planning of Discrete Manufacturing Processes

This chapter puts forward characteristics of selected issues of manufacturing processes planning using the Petri networks technique. It includes references to the extensive literature concerning the use of Petri networks in computer aided planning of discrete production processes. Diversity of these problems is high as it refers both to the methods of modeling and simulation of the course of manufacturing processes, the issue of optimizing these processes and production systems, representation of knowledge on production parts of equipment and integration of planning and production activities in general. The work puts forward example use of a temporary, priority Petri network for modeling and optimizing production systems and manufacturing operations as well as an example of fuzzy interference using the Petri network mechanism

A computer architecture for intelligent machines

The Theory of Intelligent Machines proposes a hierarchical organization for the functions of an autonomous robot based on the Principle of Increasing Precision With Decreasing Intelligence. An analytic formulation of this theory using information-theoretic measures of uncertainty for each level of the intelligent machine has been developed in recent years. A computer architecture that implements the lower two levels of the intelligent machine is presented. The architecture supports an event-driven programming paradigm that is independent of the underlying computer architecture and operating system. Details of Execution Level controllers for motion and vision systems are addressed, as well as the Petri net transducer software used to implement Coordination Level functions. Extensions to UNIX and VxWorks operating systems which enable the development of a heterogeneous, distributed application are described. A case study illustrates how this computer architecture integrates real-time and higher-level control of manipulator and vision systems

NASA Center for Intelligent Robotic Systems for Space Exploration

NASA's program for the civilian exploration of space is a challenge to scientists and engineers to help maintain and further develop the United States' position of leadership in a focused sphere of space activity. Such an ambitious plan requires the contribution and further development of many scientific and technological fields. One research area essential for the success of these space exploration programs is Intelligent Robotic Systems. These systems represent a class of autonomous and semi-autonomous machines that can perform human-like functions with or without human interaction. They are fundamental for activities too hazardous for humans or too distant or complex for remote telemanipulation. To meet this challenge, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) has established an Engineering Research Center for Intelligent Robotic Systems for Space Exploration (CIRSSE). The Center was created with a five year $5.5 million grant from NASA submitted by a team of the Robotics and Automation Laboratories. The Robotics and Automation Laboratories of RPI are the result of the merger of the Robotics and Automation Laboratory of the Department of Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering (ECSE) and the Research Laboratory for Kinematics and Robotic Mechanisms of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, and Mechanics (ME,AE,&M), in 1987. This report is an examination of the activities that are centered at CIRSSE

Simulation of the ambulatory processes in the biggest Brazilian cardiology hospital: a petri net approach

This paper presents a simulation of an ambulatory processes using timed Petri net (TPN). The simulation considers the flow of patients in the biggest Brazilian cardiology hospital. The TPN is used as a decision support system (DSS) to improve the processes, to reduce the waiting time of the patients in the ambulatory and in this way to assure a high-quality service to the patients. Simulations were carried out using the software Visual Object Net++. This is a free software and therefore the presented solution is a low-cost solution. Providing a low-cost solution has a huge importance in this work since the hospital is kept from the government efforts and operates with limited financial resources. The patients’ flow in the hospital can be faced as a service and the modelling and optimization of these services bring more efficiency to the system as well as improve the human factors involved. The results proved that some changes could be made in the processes to improve the performance of the system

Petri net approaches for modeling, controlling, and validating flexible manufacturing systems

In this dissertation, we introduce the fundamental ideas and constructs of Petri net models such as ordinary, timed, colored, stochastic, control, and neural, and present some studies that emphasize Petri nets theories and applications as extended research fields that provide suitable platforms in modeling, controlling, validating, and evaluating concurrent systems, information systems, and a versatile dynamic system and manufacturing systems;We then suggest some of extensions that help make Petri nets useful for modeling and analyzing discrete event systems and manufacturing systems models based on the context of a versatile manufacturing system, and applies extended Petri nets models to several manufacturing systems such as an assembly cell, an Automated Palletized Conveyor System, and a tooling machine to show increased modeling power and efficient analysis methods;Finally, Validation methods are presented for these models and results of a performance analysis from a deterministic and stochastic model are used to reorganize and re-evaluate a manufacturing system in order to increase its flexibility