Duncan McFarlane

A loop-shaping design procedure using H/sub infinity / synthesis

A design procedure is introduced which incorporates loop shaping methods to obtain performance/robust stability tradeoffs, and a particular H/sub infinity / optimization problem to guarantee closed-loop stability and a level of robust stability at all frequencies. Theoretical justification of this technique is given, and the effect of loop shaping on closed-loop behavior is examined. The procedure is illustrated in a controller design for a flexible space platform. >

Optimal guaranteed cost control and filtering for uncertain linear systems

The paper presents results on the design of robust state feedback controllers and steady-state robust state estimators for a class of uncertain linear systems with norm bounded uncertainty. The state feedback results extend the linear quadratic regulator to the case in which the underlying system is dependent on uncertain parameters. The state estimation results extend the steady-state Kalman filter to the case in which the underlying system is also uncertain. >

Auto ID systems and intelligent manufacturing control

Abstract Automated identification systems which involve the automated retrieval of the identity of objects are becoming a reality for monitoring items moving through the manufacturing supply chain. Automated identification enables accurate, timely information about a specific item to be stored, retrieved and communicated. This information can be used to assist in automated decision making and control functions relevant to that item. This paper specifically explores the impact of such developments on manufacturing shop floor control, examining the way in which both conventional control methods and so-called distributed, intelligent control methods can be enhanced by the availability of accurate, timely information about an item. In the case of distributed, intelligent manufacturing control we begin to build a specification for the concept of an intelligent product —a product whose information content is permanently bound to its material content and which is able to influence decisions made about it.

THE IMPACT OF AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION ON SUPPLY CHAIN OPERATIONS.

Automated Identification (Auto ID) applications can provide corporate information systems with the identity of each physical item in the supply chain in an automated and timely manner. The real time availability of item identity allows other information, related to the item, to be drawn on in order to assess both the current state of the product and future actions required. In the context of supply chain operations, widespread introduction of such systems represents a major opportunity to overhaul and improve tracking and tracing systems, process control and inventory management. In the longer term, it is possible that Auto ID systems may enable a complete re‐engineering of the supply chain, by removing a number of the constraints that limit todays supply chain structures. In this paper, we review some key challenges in supply chain operations and introduce the main elements of an Auto ID system. Using a simple categorization of supply chain operations, areas for short term deployment of Auto ID are identified and opportunities for longer term re‐engineering of different sections of the supply chain are highlighted.

Industrial adoption of agent-based technologies

We developed new class of approaches to manufacturing and supply chain decision making. These approaches employ multiagent systems, which consist of a set of intelligent agents hosted on an appropriate software platform. Agent-based technology can potentially solve complex, dynamic decision processes that are distributed. By enabling networks of autonomous yet interacting reasoning elements, this technology provides an alternative to the centralized systems prevailing in industry.

The intelligent product driven supply chain

Establishing connectivity of products with real-time information about themselves can at one level provide accurate data, and at another, allow products to assess and influence their own destiny. In this way, the specification for an intelligent product is being built - one whose information content is permanently bound to its material content. This paper explores the impact of such development on supply chains, contrasting between simple and complex product supply chains. The Auto-ID project is on track to enable such connectivity between products and information using a single, open-standard, data repository for storage and retrieval of product information. The potential impact on the design and management of supply chains is immense. This paper provides an introduction to of some of these changes, demonstrating that by enabling intelligent products, Auto ID systems will be instrumental in driving future supply chains. The paper also identifies specific application areas for this technology in the product supply chain.

Holonic and multi-agent systems for manufacturing

Invited Talks.- The Past, Present, and Future of IEC 61499.- Can Multi-Agents Wake Us from IC Design Productivity Nightmare?.- Motivation.- From Intelligent Agents to Intelligent Beings.- Multi-agent Reflection in Autonomic Systems.- Auctions with Arbitrary Deals.- Architectures and Services.- Service Composition in Holonic Multiagent Systems: Model-Driven Choreography and Orchestration.- Flexible Roles in a Holonic Multi-Agent System.- Agent-Based Inter-Organizational Workflow Management System.- Co-operative Co-evolutionary System for Solving Dynamic VRPTW Problems with Crisis Situations.- Anonymity Architecture for Mobile Agent Systems.- SitCom - Development Platform for Multimodal Perceptual Services.- New Technologies and Techniques.- An Ontology-Based Reconfiguration Agent for Intelligent Mechatronic Systems.- Methods to Observe the Clustering of Agents Within a Multi-Agent System.- Distributed Director Facilitator in a Multiagent Platform for Networked Embedded Controllers.- Agent Methods for Network Intrusion Detection and Response.- Detecting Intrusions in Agent System by Means of Exception Handling.- Smart Caching Algorithm for Software Agents Based on Re-execution Probability.- Planning and Scheduling.- Metaheuristic Agent Teams for Job Shop Scheduling Problems.- Distributed Production Scheduling Using Federated Agent Architecture.- A Study on Real-Time Scheduling for Holonic Manufacturing Systems - Simulation for Estimation of Future Status by Individual Holons.- Adaptive Planning for Supply Chain Networks.- An Agent Based Modelling Approach for Stochastic Planning Parameters.- Design Issues.- A Holonic Metamodel for Agent-Oriented Analysis and Design.- Using Adaptable Design to Classify Interactions Within a Distributed Control Architecture.- Application of the Holonic Approach in Distributed Control Systems Designing.- Design and Implementation of Adaptive Agents for Complex Manufacturing Systems.- Dynamic Configuration and Management of e-Supply Chains Based on Internet Public Registries Visited by Clusters of Software Agents.- Applications.- A Multiagent Control System for Shop Floor Assembly.- MagentaToolkit: A Set of Multi-agent Tools for Developing Adaptive Real-Time Applications.- On Practical Implementation of Holonic Control Principles in Baggage Handling Systems Using IEC 61499.- Zero Downtime Reconfiguration of Distributed Automation Systems: The ?CEDAC Approach.- Holonic Multiagent-Based System for Distributed Control of Semi-industrial Pilot Plants.- Collision Avoidance Algorithms: Multi-agent Approach.- Creating Contract Templates for Car Insurance Using Multi-agent Based Text Understanding and Clustering.- Multi-agent-Based Diagnostics of Automotive Electronic Systems.- PIHolS Workshop.- Performance in Industrial Holonic Systems.- Towards Industrial Strength Business Performance Management.- Ontology-Based Competence Management for Team Configuration.- Information Agents Handling Semantic Data as an Extension to Process Monitoring Systems.- Applications of Virtual Reality in Design and Simulation of Holonic Manufacturing Systems: A Demonstration in Die-Casting Industry.- Resilience in the Face of Disaster: Accounting for Varying Disaster Magnitudes, Resource Topologies, and (Sub)Population Distributions in the PLAN C Emergency Planning Tool.- Holonic Simulation of a Design System for Performance Analysis.

Hierarchy in distributed shop floor control

Abstract This discussion paper examines the role of hierarchy within the domain of shop floor control in manufacturing plants. Specifically, three distinct structures for shop floor control are considered, namely, hierarchical, heterarchical and holonic control systems. Holonic manufacturing is a novel paradigm for manufacturing that tries to merge the best properties of both hierarchical and heterarchical systems, namely, a high and predictable performance with a high robustness against disturbances. The paper identifies the concept of hierarchy in distributed shop floor control as one of the key contributions of holonic manufacturing. In a holonic architecture, the mapping of functions to control units remains flexible, such that decision power can be distributed over these units as needed. Based on the invariants concept of computer science, a modelling framework is proposed to identify the decision making needs of each unit. It can be used not only to describe the behaviour of the system, but also to impose performance and operational guarantees.

Adding sense to the Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) concept is being widely presented as the next revolution toward massively distributed information, where any real-world object can automatically participate in the Internet and thus be globally discovered and queried. Despite the consensus on the great potential of the concept and the significant progress in a number of enabling technologies, there is a general lack of an integrated vision on how to realize it. This paper examines the technologies that will be fundamental for realizing the IoT and proposes an architecture that integrates them into a single platform. The architecture introduces the use of the Smart Object framework to encapsulate radio-frequency identification (RFID), sensor technologies, embedded object logic, object ad-hoc networking, and Internet-based information infrastructure. We evaluate the architecture against a number of energy-based performance measures, and also show that it outperforms existing industry standards in metrics such as network throughput, delivery ratio, or routing distance. Finally, we demonstrate the feasibility and flexibility of the architecture by detailing an implementation using Wireless Sensor Networks and Web Services, and describe a prototype for the real-time monitoring of goods flowing through a supply chain.

Optimal guaranteed cost filtering for uncertain discrete‐time linear systems

This paper presents a result on the design of a steady-state robust state estimator for a class of uncertain discrete-time linear systems with normal bounded uncertainty. This result extends the steady state Kalman filter to the case in which the underlying system is uncertain. A procedure is given for the construction of a state estimator which minimizes a bound on the state error covariance. It is shown that this leads to a state estimator which is optimal with respect to a notion of quadratic guaranteed cost state estimation.