QHAR: Q-Holonic-Based ARchitecture for Self-Configuration of Cyber–Physical Production Systems

Abstract

Production systems must be able to adapt to increasingly frequent internal and external changes. Cyber-Physical Production Systems (CPPS), thanks to their potential capacity for self-reconfiguration, can cope with this need for adaptation. To implement the self-reconfiguration functionality in economical and safe conditions, CPPS must have appropriate tools and contextualized information. This information can be organized in the form of an architecture. In this paper, after the analysis of several holonic and nonholonic architectures, we propose a holonic architecture that allows for reliable and efficient reconfiguration. We call this architecture QHAR (Q-Holonic-based ARchitecture). QHAR is constructed based on the idea of a Q-holon, which has four dimensions (physical, cyber, human, and energy) and can exchange three flows (energy, data, and materials). It is a generic Holon that can represent any entity or actor of the supply chain. The QHAR is structured in three levels: centralized control level, decentralized control level, and execution level. QHAR implements the principle of an oligarchical control architecture by deploying both hierarchical and heterarchical control approaches. This ensures the overall system performance and reactivity to hazards. The proposed architecture is tested and validated on a case study.

Graphic Model for Shop Floor Simulation and Control in the Context of Industry 5.0

“…In recent years, more holonic architectures have been proposed, e.g., QHAR [20], ADACOR [21], ADACOR2 [22], and HCBA [23].…”