An approach for agent modeling in manufacturing on JADE™ reactive architecture.

Java Agent DEvelopment framework (JADE™) is a leading platform for the development of agent-based systems that are complaint with Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agents specifications. Due to the complexity, concurrency, and dynamic nature of manufacturing, it has been an important application of agent-based systems. Application of multi-agent concept in simulation leads to the agent-based simulation. Modeling the elements of manufacturing system (such as part, machine, and AGV) in reactive agent architecture is a better way of modeling for achieving discrete-event agent-based simulation. This paper focuses on modeling of different agents in manufacturing domain on JADE reactive architecture. Modeling of different agents on a shop floor in JADE reactive architecture led to the development of a simulator known as an agent-based shop floor simulator (ABSFSim). In the modeling process, different agents in the manufacturing domain have been identified by physical and functional decomposition. Internal architecture of individual agents is finalized based on their behavioral requirements. Modeling of the agents is an important development step of ABSFSim. A randomly generated sample manufacturing system has been used for testing and demonstration of ABSFSim. The modeling details provided in this paper are useful for development of agent-based systems in manufacturing domain as well as other discrete systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]