Intelligent-agent based approach for assembly automation

The assembly process used by most manufacturers today is based on disconnected ordering, scheduling as well as execution processes, and lacks on agility needed for enterprise-wide integration. This paper presents a knowledge-based multi-agent framework to enhance the agility in assembly systems. Agents with specialized expertise and high level of autonomy cooperate together to accomplish individual, as well as system objectives. In order to increase system flexibility and adaptability negotiation mechanisms for task allocation have been applied. An ontology is used to support ldquounderstandingrdquo between agents during the communication, as well as to define the domain entities and relations between them. This research demonstrates the feasibility of our approach and its efficiency in dynamic situations.