Intelligent Data Acquisition Technology Based on Agents

Abstract

Nowadays, information is the most important factor for any manufacturing enterprise. Information helps a manufacturer to make decisions about management, production, operation, maintenance, and repair. Information technology is a key for enterprises who are realising integrated manufacturing all over the world. Data acquisition is the backbone of information technology. Data acquisition technology is the product of the fusion and interaction of many technologies. It is necessary to develop new data acquisition technology and methods by using the recently produced research results. It is also important for realising manufacturing automation, promoting product quality, and enhancing the competitive ability of an enterprise. In this paper, we first analyse three common kinds of data acquisition mode and their features used in manufacturing systems. Then, based on the background of manufacturing automation, agents and distributed artificial intelligent technology, which form a new data acquisition model framework suitable for an advanced manufacturing system, is proposed, and some details about this new model are discussed. Two examples of this model used in manufacturing systems are then given to show the availability and correctness of this model framework. We conclude with current research results in this area and give an outline of future work.