AN INTELLIGENT SYSTEM FOR DYNAMIC SHARING OF WORKCELL COMPONENTS IN-PROCESS AUTOMATION

This paper presents a knowledge-based approach for automatic load shar ing among workcell components in a flexible production system (FPS). T he approach is termed ''dynamic structuring'' and it enables an FPS to choose its configuration automatically to suit new situations and pro duction demands. A method of incorporating fuzzy logic in representing the component-sharing knowledge, and in processing the associated dec isions is outlined. A blackboard architecture is described for impleme ntation of the restructuring system, using Prolog. Art illustrative ex ample of a multiple-workcell, automated, fish processing plant is simu lated to demonstrate the application of the approach.