Using the concept of intelligent agents, two system approaches are described for manufacturing applications. The first is based on the rule-based object (RBO) which is associated with a production-rules knowledge base and is implementable in an object-oriented development environment such as Smalltalk-80. A proof-of-concept automated guided vehicle (AGV) system of this kind has been recently developed. The second and more advanced approach is based on the intelligent agent object (IAO) and an AGV system of this kind is currently under development. This uses a multi-agent entity termed the modulon to handle more effectively both the co-operative planning task and the local route planning task.
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Kwok, A., Norrie, D. Intelligent agent systems for manufacturing applications. J Intell Manuf 4, 285–293 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00124141
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00124141