Product and machine agents for an autonomous assembly production system

Abstract

In this paper, product parts and machine agents are proposed for the configuration of an autonomous flexible assembly system. Product parts are divided into two types. One is the main part that is a base of the assembled product and the other is for sub parts that are installed on the main part. These parts and assembly machines are implemented as software agents in a virtual assembly production line. The main part agent takes the initiative in this system. When a new main part is put on to the assembly line, the main part agent with the product model and sub part agents are dynamically generated. The main part agent plans the assembly process by itself and selects assembly machines that execute the assembly operations by communicating with assembly machine agents and other main part agents. The part agents are deleted when a product is completed. The assembly machine agent has a machine model of itself and can determine which operations can be processed by the machine itself, The product model and machine model are described using XML. Trial implementation of main part agents, sub parts agents and assembly machine agents were done as was an assembly production simulation.