A multilevel modeling framework for semantic representation of cloud manufacturing resources

Cloud manufacturing aims to perform large-scale collaboration for complex manufacturing by sharing distributed manufacturing resources. Resource representation is a prerequisite for achieving resource optimal allocation and it determines the robustness of cloud manufacturing systems. In this paper, a three-level modeling framework is constructed for semantically representing resource-related information and knowledge. Heterogeneous resource information is represented by the resource model level, functional features that support manufacturing resources to resolve manufacturing problems is described by the capability model level, and semantics of capability models are elaborated and exhibited from multi-granularity perspectives by the semantic-based meta-model level. A practical multi-spindle lathe case is adopted to demonstrate how the constructed framework represents cloud manufacturing resources from the semantic view, which is the foundation of resource discovery in cloud manufacturing systems.