Christoph Hanisch

Self-organization in automation - the IDEAS pre-demonstrator

While the application of IT in automation gains traction, mostly motivated by the introduction of Service Orientated Approaches and Multiagent modelling, it is sometimes unclear to practitioners what is the full potential and boundaries of such concepts and technologies. The FP7 IDEAS project is focused in the design and development of Multiagent systems in a Mechatronic context which, to a great extent, implies that Mechatronic Agents must consider and respect mechanical/physical constraints while delivering the widely acknowledged (yet elusively demonstrated) characteristics that may render Agent-based control unique in respect to tolerance to disturbances, plug-ability and scalability. In this context, the present paper details the preliminary proof of concept prototype that validates the IDEAS Mechatronic Agent Architecture. The focus of this early demonstrator is to enlighten on how self-organization, inspired by the Evolvable Assembly System (EAS) Paradigm, can be exploited towards promoting the above mentioned characteristics. The main lessons learned, open points and future developing directions are distilled as the prototype is presented.

Evolvability and the intangibles

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to look at production and the installation of production lines, and question how to reduce investment for installation and how to organize the structure of such a line in order to use and reuse it for as many different or new types of products as possible.Design/methodology/approach – The paper looks at some basic technological interdependencies.Findings – The paper finds that the know‐how, the long‐term capabilities and creativity make man a very important asset in terms of economical factory operation. Evolvable production systems may in the near future turn out to be the bridging link between what one might call “the cost‐driven operation reducing the workforce” and an answer to how factory operation could be sustainable for a society and be highly profitable at the same time.Originality/value – Evolvable assembly systems are a technological task requiring profound theoretical research and solutions. The paper is of value in listing some requirements for evolvable...

Prerequisites and Conditions for Socially Sustainable Manufacturing in Europe’s Future Factories – results overview from the SO SMART Project

This paper provides an overview of the EU project SO SMART (Socially Sustainable Manufacturing for the Factories of the Future), a coordinated support action (CSA) project. SO SMART examined the conditions in Europe for creating socially sustainable workplaces in the manufacturing sector, where factories flourish along with their social environment. The project was international (with partners from five countries), multidisciplinary and participatory, involving participation of several science domain experts and a wider community of academic and industry beneficiaries who participated in panels, workshops, conference events and an online forum created specifically for the project.