Géza Haidegger

Application of software reuse and object-oriented methodologies for the modelling and control of manufacturing systems

In this paper object-oriented design and the application of software reuse of components of flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) will be introduced. The goal of this research is to provide methods and tools to build up FMS simulation models and control strategies easily, fast and reliably. As a software tool the SALMS reuse repository and its application will be demonstrated. The design methodology used for model development is based on the object-oriented Rational Rose CASE tool and on the use-case design of the OOSE methodology. A hybrid simulation and scheduling system (SSS) is used to validate and evaluate all results. SSS has been implemented as a combination of a traditional simulation/animation system (SIMAN/Cinema) and an intelligent expert environment (G2). The application of the real-time, intelligent G2 environment points to one of our R and D goals, to create intelligent, real-time control of FMS. Reuse in SIMAN/Cinema and in G2 will be analysed separately and together in general, and in the context of FMS.

Ambient Intelligence in Product Life-cycle Management

To fulfil the increasing demands today the short innovation time and the high quality of production itself is not enough in production of goods, but all phases of a product (from idea to recycling) should be managed by advanced tools and means. Nowadays the competition among companies, joined to the environmental protection rules, is so compelling that they should not only be on the top of technology in the area, but also run their business according to life-long models. The emphasis on the product post-sale life is common for these models. The most popular model is Product Life-cycle Management, for manufacturing companies, or Service Engineering (SE), for service-oriented companies, and, for both, common paradigms are in maintenance, with conformance-to-use certification. The paper introduces some basic research results achieved in the application of Ambient Intelligence, and suggests considering maintenance as a cross section of the two business paradigms. The importance of SE is specially underlined in this work.

INT-MANUS: interactive production control in a distributed environment

The European research project INT-MANUS embedded in the I*PROMS European network of excellence addresses the increasing demand for flexibility and adaptivity, which is summarized by rapid reconfigurations of complete factories as well as related aspects in Human Computer Interaction (HCI), Software, and Production Systems. The projects main goal is to develop a new technology for the production plants of the future, the Smart Connected Control Platform (SCCP). This platform allows controlling a factory with the help of an open distributed learning agent platform that integrates machines, robots, and human personnel.

Digital Enterprise Challenges

Advanced product model based style of engineering design together with internet based globalized project work relies upon advanced communication of model data. Model entities and their parameters represent decisions of engineers. Present day models of mechanical systems do not contain data about the background of human decisions. This situation motivated the authors at their investigations on exchange design intent information between engineers. Their concept was extending of product models to be capable to describe design intent information. Several human-computer and humanhuman communication issues were also considered. The complex communication problem has been divided into four sub-problems, namely communication of human intent source with the computer system, representation of human intent, exchange of intent data between modeling procedures and communication of the represented intent with humans. The paper is structured as follows. Firstly, main objectives of the research, earlier results and an approach to describe design intent in product models are outlined. Following this, utilization of human-computer procedures in 2 Horvath, Rudas and Couto modeling of design intent is characterized. Then main structure of model description of design intent is detailed. Finally design intent description in product modeling environment, is discussed and illustrated by examples.

Shop-floor communication with OSACA-compliant controllers

The ESPRIT framework within the EC had given a chance for a European consortium to develop a model for the new generation of open controls, that could be used for advanced manufacturing environment. The OSACA consortium (the name OSACA stands for: Open System Architecture for Controls within Automation Systems) had developed the methodology and the technology to build such open controllers. Within the 4th framework, the EC has launched a continuation project, named IDAS-OSACA, to help the dissemination process for the results achieved previously by the consortium. The article gives a summary on the external (superior and inferior) communication means applied with the OSACA controllers. The authors have prepared the article based on their review on the former OSACA project deliverables.

Agent-based Solutions to Support Car Recycling

Recycling and reuse urgently need development and introduction of advanced ICT networking technology, keeping in mind that recycling is crucial in achieving a global sustainable development through saving growing amounts of primary materials, and in diminishing global pollution. The requirements upon networking technology in ELV (end of life vehicles) recycling are exceptionally complex. The networking of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) involved in car recycling in Europe is of very high importance. Our project intends to develop a set of advanced (multi) agent-based ICT solutions, to support establishment and operation of dynamic networks of car recycling SMEs, and an appropriate methodology is provided, too. The specific complexity represents a multi-threaded character of networks, i.e. the participation of each SME in several value chains cause strong interconnection of networks

Special Issues in Interactive Multimedia for Tele-Presence Operations

Abstract An active research and development co-operation has been established to formulate a consortium with academic and industrial partners to work on various aspects of digitising factory IT processes. This paper details some of the research activities devoted to implementing tele-presence features with interactive multimedia solutions.

Intelligent open-architecture controller using knowledge server

In an ideal scenario of intelligent machine tools [22] the human mechanist was almost replaced by the controller. During the last decade many efforts have been made to get closer to this ideal scenario, but the way of information processing within the CNC did not change too much. The paper summarizes the requirements of an intelligent CNC evaluating the different research efforts done in this field using different artificial intelligence (AI) methods. The need for open CNC architecture was emerging at many places around the world. The second part of the paper introduces and shortly compares these efforts. In the third part a low cost concept for intelligent and open systems named Knowledge Server for Controllers (KSC) is introduced. It allows more devices to solve their intelligent processing needs using the same server that is capable to process intelligent data. In the final part the KSC concept is used in an open CNC environment to build up some elements of an intelligent CNC. The preliminary results of the implementation are also introduced.

Factory communication systems to meet multi-media requirements

Communication systems on the factory environment are evolving just as rapidly as in other application areas. There is a clear trend in computer communications to apply fast and high bandwidth networking methods and elements. Their spread in the office environment is very promising and straightforward, but their direct application in the manufacturing environment needs some prior investigation. How will it affect the management and control tasks in manufacturing systems? Besides other effects, it will enable the widespread use of multimedia features, and the authors focus on that issue. After giving a bunch of application oriented discussion topics, an experimental pilot system is detailed which could be oriented in the future to investigate manufacturing system trials.

Smart connected and interactive production control in a distributed environment

The European research project INT-MANUS embedded in the I*PROMS European network of excellence addresses the increasing demand for flexibility and adaptivity, which is summarised by rapid reconfiguration of complete factories, flexible reaction to new demands as well as related aspects in human computer interaction (HCI), software, and production systems. The projects main goal has been to develop a new technology for the production plants of the future: the Smart Connected Control Platform (SCCP). This platform allows controlling a factory with the help of an open distributed and learning agent platform that integrates machines, robots, and human personnel. It offers an enterprise service bus like concept for dynamic and decentrally controlled production systems, which flexibly connects machines and IT systems like robotic transport systems, terminals, mobile control systems, etc.