
Industrial Agents
Emerging Applications of Software Agents in Industry
- 1st Edition - March 12, 2015
- Imprint: Elsevier
- Editors: Paulo Leitão, Stamatis Karnouskos
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 1 2 - 8 0 0 3 4 1 - 1
- eBook ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 1 2 - 8 0 0 4 1 1 - 1
Industrial Agents explains how multi-agent systems improve collaborative networks to offer dynamic service changes, customization, improved quality and reliability, and flexib… Read more

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Request a sales quoteIndustrial Agents explains how multi-agent systems improve collaborative networks to offer dynamic service changes, customization, improved quality and reliability, and flexible infrastructure. Learn how these platforms can offer distributed intelligent management and control functions with communication, cooperation and synchronization capabilities, and also provide for the behavior specifications of the smart components of the system. The book offers not only an introduction to industrial agents, but also clarifies and positions the vision, on-going efforts, example applications, assessment and roadmap applicable to multiple industries. This edited work is guided and co-authored by leaders of the IEEE Technical Committee on Industrial Agents who represent both academic and industry perspectives and share the latest research along with their hands-on experiences prototyping and deploying industrial agents in industrial scenarios.
- Learn how new scientific approaches and technologies aggregate resources such next generation intelligent systems, manual workplaces and information and material flow system
- Gain insight from experts presenting the latest academic and industry research on multi-agent systems
- Explore multiple case studies and example applications showing industrial agents in a variety of scenarios
- Understand implementations across the enterprise, from low-level control systems to autonomous and collaborative management units
Advanced practitioners from industry and academia, and graduate students in the field of multi-agent systems, particularly those tasked with applying agents to industrial scenarios
Preface
List of Contributors
Part I: Industrial Agents: Concepts and Definitions
1: Software Agent Systems
Abstract
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Fundamentals of Agents and Agent-Based Systems
1.3 Supporting Technologies and Concepts
1.4 Conclusions
2: Industrial Agents
Abstract
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Modern Industrial Manufacturing Systems and Their Requirements
2.3 Architectural Types of Industrial Manufacturing Systems
2.4 The Holonic Paradigm and MAS-Based Holonic Systems
2.5 Development Tools for Industrial MASs
2.6 How MASs Can Nourish Other Industrial Approaches
2.7 Industrial MASs: Challenges and Research Areas
2.8 Conclusions
3: The Design, Deployment, and Assessment of Industrial Agent Systems
Abstract
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Distributed Versus Self-Organizing Design
3.3 Design Challenges and Directions
3.4 Deployment
3.5 Assessment
3.6 Conclusions
Part II: Industrial Agents: Related Concepts and Technologies
4: Industrial Agents in the Era of Service-Oriented Architectures and Cloud-Based Industrial Infrastructures
Abstract
Acknowledgments
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Technologies
4.3 Bridging Agents and SOA-Enabled Devices
4.4 Use Case: Cyber-Physical Infrastructure Simulation by Coupling Software Agents and Physical Devices
4.5 Use Case: Service-Oriented Industrial Automation System
4.6 Conclusions and Future Directions
5: Distributed Real-Time Automation and Control - Reactive Control Layer for Industrial Agents
Abstract
5.1 Introduction/Motivation
5.2 RCLs for Industrial Agents
5.3 Standard-Based Realization
5.4 Example
5.5 Discussion
5.6 Conclusions
6: Industrial Agents Cybersecurity
Abstract
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Technology Trends and IAs
6.3 Agent Threat Context
6.4 Requirements on IA Solutions
6.5 Discussion
6.6 Conclusions
7: Virtual Enterprises Based on Multiagent Systems
Abstract
Acknowledgment
7.1 Introduction/Motivation
7.2 Characteristics of VEs
7.3 The Benefits of Forming VEs
7.4 Obstacles and Approaches for VEs
7.5 MASs in the Coordination of VEs
7.6 MASs in E-commerce Applications
7.7 Case Study
7.8 Benefits and Assessment
7.9 Discussion
7.10 Conclusions
8: An Assessment of the Potentials and Challenges in Future Approaches for Automation Software
Abstract
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Related Work
8.3 Assessing the Potentials and Challenges in Industry
8.4 Concepts for Agents in Manufacturing Automation
8.5 Summary and Outlook
9: Agent-Based Control of Production Systems—and Its Architectural Challenges
Abstract
Acknowledgments
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Terms and Definitions
9.3 Generic Engineering Processes
9.4 Application Cases
9.5 Architectural Challenges
9.6 Conclusions and Overview
10: Identification and Implementation of Agents for Factory Automation Exploiting Mechatronical Concepts for Production System Structuring
Abstract
10.1 Introduction
10.2 Starting Points
10.3 Mechatronic-Oriented Agent Systems
10.4 Summary
Part III: Industrial Agent Applications
11: Cloud Based Agent Framework for the Industrial Automation Sector
Abstract
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Application Overview
11.3 Application Details
11.4 Benefits and Assessment
11.5 Discussion
11.6 Conclusions
12: Multi-Agent Systems for Real-Time Adaptive Resource Management
Abstract
12.1 Introduction
12.2 The Problem and Solution for Adaptive Scheduling
12.3 Examples of Applications for Industry
12.4 Discussion
12.5 Conclusion
13: Large-Scale Network and Service Management with WANTS
Abstract
13.1 Introduction and Motivation
13.2 WANTS at a Glance
13.3 WANTS in Details
13.4 Discussion
13.5 Conclusions
14: Cross-Domain Energy Savings by Means of Unified Energy Agents
Abstract
14.1 Introduction/Motivation
14.2 Application Overview
14.3 Application Details
14.4 Benefits and Assessment
14.5 Discussion
14.6 Conclusions
15: A Multi-Agent System Coordination Approach for Resilient Self-Healing Operations in Multiple Microgrids
Abstract
15.1 Introduction/Motivation
15.2 Problem Overview: Coordination and Control of Microgrids
15.3 Application Details: The Multi-Agent System Coordination Approach for a Resilient Self-Healing Operation
15.4 Benefits and Assessment: Impacts of MAS Coordination on Multiple Microgrid Transient Stability
15.5 Discussion and Conclusions
16: Multi-Agent System for Integrating Quality and Process Control in a Home Appliance Production Line
Abstract
Acknowledgments
16.1 Introduction/Motivation
16.2 Application Overview
16.3 Application Details
16.4 Benefits and Assessment
16.5 Discussion
16.6 Conclusions
17: Industrial Agents for the Fast Deployment of Evolvable Assembly Systems
Abstract
17.1 Introduction
17.2 Problem Overview
17.3 IADE—Its Architecture and Associated Concepts
17.4 On the Implementation of the IADE Stack
17.5 Benefits and Assessment
17.6 Lessons Learned
17.7 Conclusions
18: Automation Agents for Controlling the Physical Components of a Transportation System
Abstract
Acknowledgments
18.1 Introduction/Motivation
18.2 Application Overview
18.3 Application Details
18.4 Benefits and Assessment
18.5 Discussion
18.6 Conclusions
19: Intelligent Factory Agents with Predictive Analytics for Asset Management
Abstract
19.1 Introduction/Motivation
19.2 Application Overview
19.3 Application Details
19.4 Case Study
19.5 Benefits and Assessment
19.6 Discussion
19.7 Conclusions
20: A Biomimetic Approach to Distributed Maintenance Management Based on a Multi-Agent System
Abstract
Acknowledgments
20.1 Motivation
20.2 An Overview of the Applications
20.3 Application Details: AI2MS, a MAS Based on a Biomimetic Approach
20.4 Benefits and Assessment
20.5 Discussion
20.6 Conclusion
21: Programming of Multiagent Applications with JIAC
Abstract
Acknowledgments
21.1 Introduction/Motivation
21.2 Application Overview
21.3 Application Details
21.4 Tools
21.5 Benefits and Assessment
21.6 Discussion
21.7 Conclusion
Part IV: A Survey on Factors that Impact Industrial Agent Acceptance
22: A Survey on Factors that Impact Industrial Agent Acceptance
Abstract
Acknowledgments
22.1 Introduction
22.2 Factors for Industrial Agent Acceptance
22.3 Methodology, Data Collection, and Demographics
22.4 Survey Results and Analysis
22.5 Conclusions
Reference Index
Author Index
Subject Index
List of Contributors
Part I: Industrial Agents: Concepts and Definitions
1: Software Agent Systems
Abstract
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Fundamentals of Agents and Agent-Based Systems
1.3 Supporting Technologies and Concepts
1.4 Conclusions
2: Industrial Agents
Abstract
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Modern Industrial Manufacturing Systems and Their Requirements
2.3 Architectural Types of Industrial Manufacturing Systems
2.4 The Holonic Paradigm and MAS-Based Holonic Systems
2.5 Development Tools for Industrial MASs
2.6 How MASs Can Nourish Other Industrial Approaches
2.7 Industrial MASs: Challenges and Research Areas
2.8 Conclusions
3: The Design, Deployment, and Assessment of Industrial Agent Systems
Abstract
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Distributed Versus Self-Organizing Design
3.3 Design Challenges and Directions
3.4 Deployment
3.5 Assessment
3.6 Conclusions
Part II: Industrial Agents: Related Concepts and Technologies
4: Industrial Agents in the Era of Service-Oriented Architectures and Cloud-Based Industrial Infrastructures
Abstract
Acknowledgments
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Technologies
4.3 Bridging Agents and SOA-Enabled Devices
4.4 Use Case: Cyber-Physical Infrastructure Simulation by Coupling Software Agents and Physical Devices
4.5 Use Case: Service-Oriented Industrial Automation System
4.6 Conclusions and Future Directions
5: Distributed Real-Time Automation and Control - Reactive Control Layer for Industrial Agents
Abstract
5.1 Introduction/Motivation
5.2 RCLs for Industrial Agents
5.3 Standard-Based Realization
5.4 Example
5.5 Discussion
5.6 Conclusions
6: Industrial Agents Cybersecurity
Abstract
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Technology Trends and IAs
6.3 Agent Threat Context
6.4 Requirements on IA Solutions
6.5 Discussion
6.6 Conclusions
7: Virtual Enterprises Based on Multiagent Systems
Abstract
Acknowledgment
7.1 Introduction/Motivation
7.2 Characteristics of VEs
7.3 The Benefits of Forming VEs
7.4 Obstacles and Approaches for VEs
7.5 MASs in the Coordination of VEs
7.6 MASs in E-commerce Applications
7.7 Case Study
7.8 Benefits and Assessment
7.9 Discussion
7.10 Conclusions
8: An Assessment of the Potentials and Challenges in Future Approaches for Automation Software
Abstract
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Related Work
8.3 Assessing the Potentials and Challenges in Industry
8.4 Concepts for Agents in Manufacturing Automation
8.5 Summary and Outlook
9: Agent-Based Control of Production Systems—and Its Architectural Challenges
Abstract
Acknowledgments
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Terms and Definitions
9.3 Generic Engineering Processes
9.4 Application Cases
9.5 Architectural Challenges
9.6 Conclusions and Overview
10: Identification and Implementation of Agents for Factory Automation Exploiting Mechatronical Concepts for Production System Structuring
Abstract
10.1 Introduction
10.2 Starting Points
10.3 Mechatronic-Oriented Agent Systems
10.4 Summary
Part III: Industrial Agent Applications
11: Cloud Based Agent Framework for the Industrial Automation Sector
Abstract
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Application Overview
11.3 Application Details
11.4 Benefits and Assessment
11.5 Discussion
11.6 Conclusions
12: Multi-Agent Systems for Real-Time Adaptive Resource Management
Abstract
12.1 Introduction
12.2 The Problem and Solution for Adaptive Scheduling
12.3 Examples of Applications for Industry
12.4 Discussion
12.5 Conclusion
13: Large-Scale Network and Service Management with WANTS
Abstract
13.1 Introduction and Motivation
13.2 WANTS at a Glance
13.3 WANTS in Details
13.4 Discussion
13.5 Conclusions
14: Cross-Domain Energy Savings by Means of Unified Energy Agents
Abstract
14.1 Introduction/Motivation
14.2 Application Overview
14.3 Application Details
14.4 Benefits and Assessment
14.5 Discussion
14.6 Conclusions
15: A Multi-Agent System Coordination Approach for Resilient Self-Healing Operations in Multiple Microgrids
Abstract
15.1 Introduction/Motivation
15.2 Problem Overview: Coordination and Control of Microgrids
15.3 Application Details: The Multi-Agent System Coordination Approach for a Resilient Self-Healing Operation
15.4 Benefits and Assessment: Impacts of MAS Coordination on Multiple Microgrid Transient Stability
15.5 Discussion and Conclusions
16: Multi-Agent System for Integrating Quality and Process Control in a Home Appliance Production Line
Abstract
Acknowledgments
16.1 Introduction/Motivation
16.2 Application Overview
16.3 Application Details
16.4 Benefits and Assessment
16.5 Discussion
16.6 Conclusions
17: Industrial Agents for the Fast Deployment of Evolvable Assembly Systems
Abstract
17.1 Introduction
17.2 Problem Overview
17.3 IADE—Its Architecture and Associated Concepts
17.4 On the Implementation of the IADE Stack
17.5 Benefits and Assessment
17.6 Lessons Learned
17.7 Conclusions
18: Automation Agents for Controlling the Physical Components of a Transportation System
Abstract
Acknowledgments
18.1 Introduction/Motivation
18.2 Application Overview
18.3 Application Details
18.4 Benefits and Assessment
18.5 Discussion
18.6 Conclusions
19: Intelligent Factory Agents with Predictive Analytics for Asset Management
Abstract
19.1 Introduction/Motivation
19.2 Application Overview
19.3 Application Details
19.4 Case Study
19.5 Benefits and Assessment
19.6 Discussion
19.7 Conclusions
20: A Biomimetic Approach to Distributed Maintenance Management Based on a Multi-Agent System
Abstract
Acknowledgments
20.1 Motivation
20.2 An Overview of the Applications
20.3 Application Details: AI2MS, a MAS Based on a Biomimetic Approach
20.4 Benefits and Assessment
20.5 Discussion
20.6 Conclusion
21: Programming of Multiagent Applications with JIAC
Abstract
Acknowledgments
21.1 Introduction/Motivation
21.2 Application Overview
21.3 Application Details
21.4 Tools
21.5 Benefits and Assessment
21.6 Discussion
21.7 Conclusion
Part IV: A Survey on Factors that Impact Industrial Agent Acceptance
22: A Survey on Factors that Impact Industrial Agent Acceptance
Abstract
Acknowledgments
22.1 Introduction
22.2 Factors for Industrial Agent Acceptance
22.3 Methodology, Data Collection, and Demographics
22.4 Survey Results and Analysis
22.5 Conclusions
Reference Index
Author Index
Subject Index
- Edition: 1
- Published: March 12, 2015
- No. of pages (Paperback): 476
- No. of pages (eBook): 476
- Imprint: Elsevier
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN: 9780128003411
- eBook ISBN: 9780128004111
PL
Paulo Leitão
Paulo Leitão is currently an Associate Professor at Polytechnic Institute of Bragança as well as Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering, where he has taught robotics and automation systems courses. His research includes intelligent and reconfigurable systems, collaborative factory automation, agent-based and holonic control, service-oriented architectures and bio-inspiration engineering. He has published his research more than 100 times in journals including IEEE Intelligent Systems, and Transactions on Systems, Man and Cybernetics, and at IEEE conferences on Industrial Electronics, Systems, Self-adaptive Systems, and more. He is the research lead on the project “Grace” to develop systems to integrate process and quality control using multi-agent technology.
Affiliations and expertise
Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, PortugalSK
Stamatis Karnouskos
Stamatis Karnouskos is an expert on the IoT at SAP, Germany. He investigates the added value and impact of emerging technologies in enterprise systems. For over 20 years, he has led efforts in several European Commission and industry-funded projects relate to IoT, Cyber-Physical Systems, Industrie 4.0, manufacturing, smart grids, smart cities, security, and mobility. Stamatis has extensive experience in research and technology management within the industry as well as the European Commission and several national research funding bodies (e.g., in Germany, France, Switzerland, Denmark, Czech Republic, and Greece). He has served on the technical advisory board of the Internet Protocol for Smart Objects (IPSO) Alliance and the Permanent Stakeholder Group of the European Network and nformation Security Agency (ENISA).
Affiliations and expertise
expert on the IoT at SAP, Germany.Read Industrial Agents on ScienceDirect