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4.2 Agent-Based Plant Engineering Approach
In the agent-oriented meta model of the engineering process based on role analysis the entities in the automation system are aware of their position and tasks. The conceptual model of technological components encapsulates all engineering data belonging to an entity. The combination of both enables an entity to handle actively all necessary engineering functionality. Fig. 4 on the left metaphorically shows the consolidation of this meta model with the conceptual model of technological components: the agent representing an entity within the plant is integrated in the technological component. The agent-oriented meta model can be implemented as an agent-based component library, providing both predefined engineering data and functionality. The agent represented as a technological component can - based on its roles - actively support the engineering process using the knowledge of its current position, data and dependencies in the planning project. Therefore the term of agent-based engineering in the context of this paper means engineering based on agents.
In designing the automation system with the agent-based component library the same engineering process is performed with selection, instantiation, integration and parameterization of the familiar components. However, in doing so now an agent system is build (Fig. 4 on the right). The whole engineering process is based on an agent-system which is transparent to the engineer. Metaphorically speaking the created agent system is a “living” system model, that takes care of itself. Fig. 5 shows the roles and associations within an agent-based engineering environment. When a component is selected from the component library and instantiated in the system model (the planning project), a type-instance association is established between the two involved agents. Thereby a flexible handling of the various dependencies, e.g. the reconciliation of changes between library component and instances (delta generation) is realized. In the case of a previous individually changed instance later inheriting changes from the library component, inevitable conflicts can be recognized and handled immediately. When the component is integrated in the planning project, connections are established between agents, that can also be handled actively in the course of the engineering process. Integrating the component in different views then addresses different roles and their respective representations, associations and restrictions. Engineering process support now can also be done by the management of requirements concerning particular “places” in the model. In Fig. 5 a requirement restricts the operating temperature for the Motor in the place of M1. It is represented by an agent. When the library component is integrated in this place, the two agents have to co-ordinate this requirement and in case the instantiated motor does not meet it, the user can be automatically informed.
 The merits of the agent-based engineering approach are active support in instantiating and integrating components, management of components’ dependencies, active propagation of changes and recognition of possible conflicts as well as engineering errors. Active management of dependencies also fundamentally improves the reuse of models or model parts. It represents a step towards the reuse of engineering knowhow (like design decisions and patterns) instead of reuse of data. In the next Section the further possibilities of the approach are estimated. Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
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