1. Using Radio Frequency Identification in Agent- Based Manufacturing Control Systems By: Lamar Alston ASQ Student Member

2. RFID  (RFID) is a technology for automatic identification and localization of items, particularly in supply chain. Unlike bar code technology that detects the optical signals reflected from barcode labels, RFID uses radio waves to transmit the information from an RFID tag placed on the physical object to the RFID reader.

3. Agent Base Controlled System Tracking Inventory Cambridge Packing  The Cambridge packing (1) Montech conveyor (2) gate, (3) RFID reader, (4)docking station, (5) Fanuc M6i robot, (6) storage area, (7) rack storage, (8) gantry robot, (9) shuttle

4. Significant Changes in Control Hierarchy  The most important aspect of the agent-based control system is, that unlike in classical Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) systems, there is no central control element.  The decision-making processes are distributed over a community of units – agents – that are responsible for the local control of particular parts or components of the manufacturing equipment.

5. RFID Data Collection  The core of our RFID-oriented development is a small, self-contained Java application called RFID Manager, which task is to collect the RFID data from the readers, provide basic filtering mechanisms and temporarily store the data in its internal memory.

6. RFID Data mining  The most commonly required type of filtering technique is the duplicity read filtering– as the tag enters the RF field of the reader, its EPC is reported by the reader continually as long as the tag resides in the field.  Another useful processing module commonly implemented is the Logical Mapping filter, which allows one to define separated reading zones called logical readers and associate the information about the physical reader and antenna that actually read an EPC with the appropriate logical reader entity.

7. Rockwell’s Agent Based Platform  The RFID Logix Manager provides the EPC data to the control applications running on an industrial PLC (Rockwell Automation ControlLogixTM) by writing them directly into the PLC data-table (common data memory).

8. Rockwell’s Agent Based Tool  Rockwell Automation application Aimed particularly at the transportation of discrete work pieces (products) among the manufacturing cells (machines) on the factory shop floor using a conveyor- based transportation, we have developed the agent-based simulation and control system called MAST – Manufacturing Agent Simulation Tool.  --------Rockwell Automation

9. RFID Agent Examples  Work cell agent that represents a general manufacturing cell, e.g. a drilling/milling machine, storage area, assembly machine, docking station, etc. Work cells play roles of source and destination components.  Conveyor belt used to transport work pieces between two other components which it is connected to.  Diverter (crossing) agent that switches work pieces between the conveyor belts in order to navigate them to desired destination work cell. Each diverter agent holds an up-to-date routing table containing the knowledge.

10. Conclusion  Agent Based Control and computer architecture is improving quality and saying millions by allowing visualization into the manufacturing enterprise. This near real time availability of information aids a company’s decision makers to make informed decisions