Patrick Peeters

Designing Holonic manufacturing systems

Abstract This paper discusses the design of Holonic manufacturing systems (HMS), with emphasis on manufacturing control. First, it discusses the concept of a Holonic system. Second, it presents the HMS reference architecture for manufacturing control. Third, it addresses the overall design problem, i.e. designing both the holonic control system and the underlying manufacturing system. Finally, the paper addresses the design and development of the control software itself.

Emergent flow shop control based on mascada agents

Abstract New concepts for manufacturing control are required to allow faster responses to unanticipated operational disruptions and reconfigurations. This paper presents a new approach based on agent technology to gain both disturbance and change management capabilities. In this scheme, agents operate within an information distribution environment as observable in biological insect societies and the overall control behavior emerges from the decision taking of single agents. It is shown how to specify the right set of agents for a control application, how these agents are coordinated in their behavior and how decision making takes place.

Holonic Manufacturing Control at K.U. Leuven

Abstract This paper presents an overview of ongoing research on Holonic Manufacturing Control at the PMA division of the K.U.Leuven. First, it discusses the term Holonic System. Next, it describes the Holonic Manufacturing Control Architecture. Third, the paper discusses a functional decomposition of the control system design. Finally, implementation issues are addressed