Process for developing an agent-based control system for an industrial flexible production system
AssigneeSchneider Automation Inc.
InventorArmando Walter Colombo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a process for developing an agent-based, preferably a multi-agent-based, control system (SS) for an industrial flexible production system (PS). To simplify implementation of a control system for a flexible production system, it is provided that a simulation model (KM) of the production system (PS) is generated, and that the simulation model (KM) derived from the production system (PS) is transformed directly into models of a multi-agent-based control system (MASS).
Claims7
Process for developing an agent-based, preferably a multi-agent-based, control system (SS) for a industrial flexible production system (PS), characterized in that a simulation model (KM) of the production system (PS) is generated, and that the simulation model (KM) derived from the production system (PS) is transformed directly into models of a multi-agent-based control system (MASS).
Process according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the following process steps are performed:
- Generation of a simulation model (M1 . . . MN) based upon high-level Petri nets for each component (K1 . . . KN) of the flexible production system (PS), taking into account sequence-based specifications,
- Generation of a simulation model of interfaces such as sensor-actuator interfaces for each component (K1 . . . KN) within a logical control structure (MASS) that is derived from the simulation model (M1 . . . MN), taking into account mechatronic specifications of the modeled production components,
- Validation of the specifications of each modeled component (K1 . . . KN) and the associated control structure (MASS),
- Generation of a coordination model (KM) of the components (K1 . . . KN) or the agents (SA) based upon the specifications of a layout (L) of the flexible production system, preferably taking into account both a competition and a cooperation behavior among the components.
Process according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that agents of the flexible production system (PS) are uniformly derived from the high-level Petri net simulation model (KM) (agentification).
Process according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the high-level Petri net simulation model (KM) is used as the basis of the multi-agent-based control structure (MASS) of the flexible production system (PS).
Process according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the simulation-based and/or formal validation of structural and dynamic specifications of the multi-agent-based control structure or the layout of the flexible production system and the behavior of the flexible production system encompass in particular:
- sequence strategies, conflicts, autonomous and/or cooperative decision-making processes, coordination, competition, product specification, and/or control commands, etc., that can occur in the system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.