Eugen Diaconescu

Communication solution for industrial control applications with multi-agents using OPC servers

This paper presents a concrete way of linking the JADE multi-agent system with the equipment (eg PLC, DCS, SCADA) comprised into a distributed industrial control system based on agents, using OPC servers. Industrial applications of multi-agent technologies are limited especially due to communication difficulties between software development environments with agents and with heterogeneous control devices connected to sensors and actuators in the industrial process. The solution found mainly refers to the physical connection inside of the infrastructure which allows to implement several types of communication protocols and languages. The content of this paper refers to a part of a dedicated application for monitoring, collection and archiving data of a manufacturing process in the automotive industry. The data are used by the maintenance planning system for carrying out checks and repairs on monitored equipment and machinery according to real functioning duration.

An identifying and authorizing application using 1-wire® technology

This paper presents a hardware and software application using the 1-wire technology. The application has several components: 1-wire network of iButton® type devices, addressable switches, serial EEPROM memories, the software package developed for Windows operating system. The application achieves several goals: 1-wire network interrogation, data processing, implementation of several control functions of identification and authorizing type. The solutions given have advantage of the hardware simplicity, which is specific to the 1-wire technology, and high efficiency in building complex network architectures. The practical usefulness of the application presented is to be found in the industrial field, in intelligent building, in alarm and anti-burglary systems, in sensor networks, etc.

An Experimental Framework for Multi-Agents Using RTOS Based Robotic Controllers

Thist paper presents a framework for distributed application development containing autonomous manipulator robots, multi-agents based software and real time operating systems. The framework is structured on layers; this approach dissociates hardware from local control loops and high level global control strategy. In our implemented version, the working framework contains an original combinations of two robotic arms, MQX controllers using RTOS and a multi-agent JADE based platform running on PC. This structuring gives to the developer the ability to focus on specific individual modules development which then are integrated in a comprising system. The proposed modular distributed architecture favors reusing, fast refactoring and maintenance of the distributed system. The paper describes the overall structure of the framework, but also the features and functionality of its components. It also highlights the advantages of distributed control based on multi-agents and the flexibility of MQX RTOS controllers running robotic tasks. The interactions between software, controllers and mechanical systems in the time domain are also evaluated. Finally, the implemented strategies will be evaluated in order to be applied for the industrial field.

Experimental study on nonlinear behavior of Buck converter as noise generator and its influence on vibroacoustic systems

The Power Distribution Network of a PCB based system is largely influenced by the switching noise from power converters. This paper presents the nonlinear behavior of the DC-DC Buck converter as EMI generator. Time sensitive data collector are based on high speed real time systems which require high quality of power and ground distribution network. By analyzing the interferences generated by the switching noise of the converters there can be made improvements over the Power Integrity of the PCB and overall performance and measurement accuracy of system. In this paper are presented two types of switching regimes of the Buck converter: periodic switching and random switching. A spectral analysis of the output waveform voltage is used to compare both their influence in the system. An experimental model using the Buck converter as noise generator is studied and its behavior influence on the vibroacoustic measurements domain is analyzed. The experimental study will provide useful information for vibroacoustic embedded system designers.

Estimating a battery state of charge using neural networks

This paper presents the means for estimating a battery State of Charge (SoC) using neural networks. Several neural networks such as: radial basis function (RBF), feed forward (FF) and nonlinear autoregressive with exogenous (external) input (NARX) are used for curve fitting and predicting features values. The conclusions are drawn after comparing the values obtained from the models and the data obtained from discharging a LiFePO4 (LFP) battery.

Multi-agent distributed infrastructure for intelligent building control

In this article, the authors propose a distributed infrastructure for intelligent building control using multi-agent technology, based on their own solutions. The novelties are regarding to modified Modbus communication protocol that was obtained by reorganization of the protocol data structure while keeping the standard functionality for legacy devices, innovative hardware controllers as communication network nodes and an original distributed software. The system ensures a high level of hardware and software modularity, which relies on configurability, scalability and robustness. The system performs functions such as fault detection and diagnosis, monitoring and control through analysis of variables at different stages of building management process, paying attention to the exchange of information between different communication interfaces.

A Laboratory Infrastructure for the Evaluation of the Use of Multi-Agent Technologies in Industrial SCADA Systems

This paper presents some considerations on the posibility of using of multi-agent systems MAS in building SCADA systems. It also describes the laboratory test bench developed by us for the testing of the SCADA-MAS compound. It is shown the reflection in the literature of the SCADA-MAS subject to the extent that it exists and the main concepts underlying the two important technologies, one of which is of technical and engineering origin, and the other is related to artificial intelligence. We evaluates the prejudgement concerning incompatibility or the disimilarity of the two technologies having divergent characteristics. We propose research directions suitable for multi-agent systems to assist in solving industrial SCADA networks.

An Agent Infrastructure For the Human Driver Assistant

The paper the original development of a device having the ability of data acquisition representing operating and control decisions from operation made by a automotive driver inside the cars cabin presents. The device is producing analogical and digital signals which can be interpreted and statistically processed to obtain information regarding emotional state or abilities of the driver, for example nervous state or his accuracy of the operations done in dynamic state when driving a certain car. The device is portable, it can be installed easily in the cars cabin without any physical intrusions in the structure of the vehicle and after installed it will acquire signals from acceleration, brake, gear shifter, clutch and the velocity of the vehicle. Evaluating the emotional state of the driver and the accuracy of the movements done by him during a driving session, the device can emit acoustic and visual output signals which in a certain manner will help to improve drivers skills. The human driver can interact with this device trough the touch screen display. If more of this devices having typical agents proprieties, are installed on vehicles, they can interact easily between them and communicate with an monitoring authority which is directing the traffics flow forming a SMA. The result of monitoring by a SMA of emotional states of the group of human drivers, as a second solution, complementary with the usage of the monitoring video cameras, can be useful to group leader (the detection of fatigue and exhaustion), or to the traffic flow legal authority (fluidization measures when detecting a growing of nervous state at a certain group in an area).