Dynamics of Autonomously Controlled Heterarchical Manufacturing Systems

Vittal Prabhu
Laboratory for Applied Manufacturing Control
University of Wisconsin-Madison

E-mail: prabhu@ie.engr.wisc.edu

2:30 pm Fri. Dec. 8 in 2310 Computer Sciences and Statistics

Heterarchical manufacturing systems characterized by cooperation among loosely-coupled autonomous entities have been proposed for controlling automated manufacturing systems. In this talk, design principles for heterarchical systems are reviewed that have evolved to promote reduced complexity, increased extensibility, self-configurability, and adaptation in real time. An autonomous control algorithm is presented for arrival time of parts at a machine where using local feedback control, system dynamics and convergence to meritorious states can be guaranteed, leading to confidence in system performance.