The comparison of the use of holonic and agent-based methods in modelling of manufacturing systems

Abstract

Abstract. The rapid evolution in the field of industrial automation and manufacturing is often called the 4 th Industry Revolution. Worldwide availability of the internet access contributes to the competition between manufacturers, gives the opportunity for buying materials, parts and for creating the partnership networks, like cloud manufacturing, grid manufacturing (MGrid), virtual enterprises etc. The effect of the industry evolution is the need to search for new solutions in the field of manufacturing systems modelling and simulation. During the last decade researchers have developed the agent-based approach of modelling. This methodology have been taken from the computer science, but was adapted to the philosophy of industrial automation and robotization. The operation of the agent-based system depends on the simultaneous acting of different agents that may have different roles. On the other hand, there is the holon-based approach that uses the structures created by holons. It differs from the agentbased structure in some aspects, while the other ones are quite similar in both methodologies. The aim of this paper is to present the both methodologies and discuss the similarities and the differences. This may could help to select the optimal method of modelling, according to the considered problem and software resources.

Manufacturing Execution System Integration through the Standardization of a Common Service Model for Cyber-Physical Production Systems

“…The Product-Resource-Order-Staff Reference Architecture for HMS (PROSA) gained its name from this concept [40]. Holons, as wrappers, hid unnecessary details of the main entities and could realize a spectrum of control schemes, from strictly hierarchical via heterarchical to fully distributed ones [41]. Later, the so-called Activity Resource Type Instance Reference Architecture (ARTI) was born, which combined the strength of the holonic concept and the ideas of typing and instantiating from the information and computer sciences.…”

Diseño de una arquitectura heterárquica de control de la producción centrada en el humano

“…A su vez, la parte de procesamiento físico es responsable de controlar el recurso particular representado por ese holón (Foit et al, 2017).…”