Multi-agent systems in industry: current trends & future challenges

This paper introduces the multi-agent systems paradigm and presents some industrial applications of this AI approach, namely in manufacturing, handling and logistics domains. The road-blockers for the current weak adoption of this technology in industry are also discussed, and finally the current trends and several future challenges are pointed out to increase the wider dissemination and acceptance of the multi-agent technology in industry

Functional modelling in evolvable assembly systems

The design and reconfiguration of adaptive production systems is a key driver in modern advanced manufacturing. We summarise the use of an ap-proach from the field of functional modelling to capture the function, behaviour, and structure of a system. This model is an integral part of the Evolvable Assembly Systems architecture, allowing the system to adapt its behaviour in response to changing product requirements. The integrated approach is illustrated with an example taken from a real EAS instantiation

Phenotypical and physiological study of near-isogenic durum wheat lines under contrasting water regimes

Irrigation treatments involving two water regimes were carried out in a controlled environment on eight nearisogenic durum wheat lines that differed in a major yield-related QTL region (QYld. idw-3B) in order to assess the relationship between morpho-physiological traits, antioxidant enzyme activities, and polyamine contents in the flag leaves, and drought tolerance. Drought stress, simulated under a rain-out shelter, negatively affected the performance of the isogenic lines, leading to significant reductions in seed yield, tiller number, chlorophyll content, plant height, leaf area, and ascorbate peroxidase activity, while the polyamine content and guaiacol peroxidase activity increased. The ascorbate peroxidase activity was negatively correlated with seed weight per main (r = -0.446) and side spike (r = -0.465) and the 1000-grain weight of the main and side spike (r = -0.396 and r = -0.49, respectively) and the guaiacol peroxidase activity with the number of seeds per main (r = -0.457) and side spike (r = -0.378) and the seed weight per side spike (r = -0.38). PUT, SPD, and SPN contents showed a significant positive relationship with the number of seeds per main spike (0.534***, 0.496***, and 0.481**, respectively) and the seed weight per main spike (0.383*, 0.352*, and 0.399**, respectively). ANOVA showed that the QYld. idw-3B++ lines had significantly better yield performance under non-watered conditions than the QYld. idw-3B--lines, but their response to drought stress was not uniform regarding other yield-related traits. (C) 2016 SAAB. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved