Browsing by Author "Foehr, Matthias"
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- Adaptation of functional inspection test plan in a production line using a multi-agent systemPublication . Rodrigues, Nelson; Leitão, Paulo; Foehr, Matthias; Turrin, Claudio; Pagani, Arnaldo; Decesari, RobertoThe multi-agent systems technology is a proper approach to implement distributed manufacturing systems exhibiting adaptation and flexibility. This paper proposes a multi-agent based solution for the adaptation of the functional test plan in a production line producing washing machines, aiming to increase the process productivity and product quality. The global adaptation mechanism is embedded on the multiagent system infrastructure, allowing the optimized selection of tests based on the correlation of the quality data gathered along the production line. The proposed approach was developed and installed on a real production line producing washing machines under the European Seventh Framework Programme GRACE project.
- Engineering of next generation cyber-physical automation system architecturesPublication . Foehr, Matthias; Vollmar, Jan; Calà, Ambra; Leitão, Paulo; Karnouskos, Stamatis; Colombo, Armando W.Cyber-Physical-Systems (CPS) enable flexible and reconfigurable realization of automation system architectures, utilizing distributed control architectures with non-hierarchical modules linked together through different communication systems. Several control system architectures have been developed and validated in the past years by research groups. However, there is still a lack of implementation in industry. The intention of this work is to provide a summary of current alternative control system architectures that could be applied in industrial automation domain as well as a review of their commonalities. The aim is to point out the differences between the traditional centralized and hierarchical architectures to discussed ones, which rely on decentralized decision-making and control. Challenges and impacts that industries and engineers face in the process of adopting decentralized control architectures are discussed, analysing the obstacles for industrial acceptance and the new necessary interdisciplinary engineering skills. Finally, an outlook of possible mitigation and migration actions required to implement the decentralized control architectures is addressed.
- Implementation of a methodology for consideration of product quality within discrete manufacturingPublication . Foehr, Matthias; Jäger, Tobias; Turrin, Claudio; Petrali, Pierluigi; Pagani, Arnaldo; Leitão, PauloThe present paper deals with the questions how product quality can be influenced within product manufacturing and how production control can be optimized for increasing product quality. It focuses on discrete manufacturing processes and presents a methodology to gather and analyze relevant influences on product quality and a multi-agent architecture for flexible and quality focused production control. It will be shown how both approaches can be implemented to achieve a flexible, adaptable and quality focused production process control.
- Instantiating the PERFORM system architecture for industrial case studiesPublication . Leitão, Paulo; Barbosa, José; Foehr, Matthias; Calà, Ambra; Perlo, Pietro; Iuzzolino, Gregorio; Petrali, Pierluigi; Vallhagen, Johan; Colombo, Armando W.The PERFoRM project, an innovation action promoted within the scope of the EU Horizon 2020 program, advocates the use of an Industrie 4.0 compliant system architecture for the seamless reconfiguration of robots and machinery. The system architecture re-uses the innovative results from previous successful R & D projects on distributed control systems domain, such as SOCRADES, IMC-AESOP, GRACE and IDEAS. This paper, after describing the main pillars of the PERFoRM system architecture, focuses on mapping the system architecture into four industrial use cases aiming to validate the system architecture design before its deployment in the real environments.
- Integrating mechatronic thinking and multi-agent approachesPublication . Foehr, Matthias; Leitão, Paulo; Wagner, Thomas; Jäger, Tobias; Lüder, ArndtThe paper introduces a concept for the combination of mechatronic unit and multi-agent system approaches. It highlights how combining both approaches to a new kind of integrated system architecture may enforce the dissemination and reusability of methods and automatisms developed for one specific system architecture to other similar ones. Additionally it will show how this integrated architecture leads to a better exchange of Automation architectures in general. Thus, all systems compliant with the described architecture may benefit from methods and automatism applicable for a broad range of systems. The suitability of this integration approach is verified by using the example of a washing machine production line.
- Integration of process and quality control using multi-agent technologyPublication . Cristalli, Cristina; Foehr, Matthias; Leitão, Paulo; Paone, Nicola; Castellini, Paolo; Turrin, Claudio; Schjolberg, IngridThe paper introduces a new approach on design of distributed manufacturing control systems. It will be shown how multi-agent principles, self-learning, self-adaptation and a new engineering method for distributed production systems can be used to enhance integration of production control process quality control. It will be highlighted how multi-agent systems may be implemented to enforce interaction of manufacturing execution system and distributed control system, enhancing the exploitation of all available information at the quality control and process control levels. Additional focus is set on production process modeling, quality control algorithms and an engineering methodology integrating all these aspects within. The final results are validated in the field of white ware using a washing machine production line.
- Methodology for consideration of system quality within manufacturingPublication . Foehr, Matthias; Jäger, Tobias; Turrin, Claudio; Petrali, Pierluigi; Pagani, Arnaldo; Leitão, PauloThe present paper deals with the question how system quality can be influenced within its engineering and manufacturing. It focuses on discrete manufacturing by system of systems and presents a methodology to gather and analyze relevant influences on system quality within a MPFQ-model. The model is based on four main elements: Materials, Processes, Functions and Quality. The paper brings together functional design/thinking in system of systems engineering with system engineering and manufacturing design. It will show the basic architecture behind the MPFQ model and how quality influences can be methodically detected. Afterwards the application of the MPFQ-model will be shown and benefits will be evaluated.
- Towards the integration of process and quality control using multi-agent technologyPublication . Castellini, Paolo; Cristalli, Cristina; Foehr, Matthias; Leitão, Paulo; Paone, Nicola; Schjolberg, Ingrid; Tjønnås, Johannes; Turrin, Claudio; Wagner, ThomasThe paper introduces a vision on the design of distributed manufacturing control systems using the multi-agent principles to enhance the integration of the production and quality control processes. It is highlighted how agent technology may enforce interaction of manufacturing execution system and distributed control system, enhancing the exploitation of the available information at the quality control and process control levels. A specific focus is made on a suitable engineering methodology for the design and realization of such concept. Innovation is also presented at the level of adaptive process control and self-optimizing quality control, with examples related to a home appliance production line.