Increased flexibility for heterogeneously structured material flow systems enabled by intelligent software agents controlling self-configuring conveyors

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Main objective of the project iSiKon is the development of intelligent software modules in the form of software agents (SWA) for the configuration and control of heterogeneously structured material flow systems. The agents represent individual conveyor modules (FTM) in the overall system. To enable self-configuration and -control of the system, the SWAs need knowledge about specific properties (e.g. which goods can be transported). In addition, the SWA must be able to determine the location of the represented FTM in the overall system topology. Only in this way it is possible to perform on FTM-level efficient route planning. The control concept is able to process transport orders from a higher administrative level (e.g. warehouse management system) as well as transport requests that are generated by the goods themselves (e.g. by using RFID-technology). 'Planning agents', which have tailored information to derive a global logical structure, should be introduced in addition to the FTM-agents. The interplay of local and global agents creates an adaptive software infrastructure that supports the identification and evaluation of possible paths, coordination of load changes and an online reconfiguration of the conveyor system after adding/removing conveyor modules (FTMs). The desired self-configuration and the decentralized control approach primarily results in shortened and simplified commissioning/modification phases of material handling systems and an increasing flexibility and availability of such systems. Implementation of this decentralized control concept and its different types of agents has to be fully capable of real time requirements on the usual automation technology devices such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs).