A discrete-event formalism to model adaptive multi agent manufacturing control

A multi-agent control architecture for agile manufacturing is modeled with a discrete event system approach. Two interacting types of autonomous controllers, Part and Machine Agents, control part flow and machine processing. Both are modeled as atomic discrete event systems. Subsequently the entire network of agents is described by relationships between agents. The architecture encompasses a mechanism to adapt agents' decision laws, integrated in agents' state. So, even if there is no explicit interaction between agents of the same type, cooperation is indirectly achieved by adapting the laws to the operational conditions of the manufacturing floor. A sample of simulation results shows the potentialities of the architecture. Copyright (C) 2001 IFAC.