Intelligent modular design with holonic fuzzy agents

Abstract

Presently, modular designs use various technologies accompanied by multiple models. Although no integral solution is known, a plethora of approaches is used to resolve this trans disciplinary challenge, often by using local intelligence. However, the effective utilization of multiple models requires proper integration for them to work together as a cohesive system. This requirement calls for the development of intelligent models and tools that can be used for the development of intelligent modular products. Modular design based on these intelligent models and tools is called intelligent modular design. Intelligent modular design requires to be considered both dynamically and holistically by combining customer requirements, product functions, solutions, service specifications, and their fuzziness in order to structure a product into intelligent modules. This paper proposes the use of holonic fuzzy agents to fulfill both the properties of intelligent models and the requirements of intelligent modular design. The set of fuzzy function agents and their corresponding fuzzy solution agents are found from customization of the product-service system in the fuzzy function agent-fuzzy solution agent sub-network. On the basis of attractor agent recognition, the fuzzy function and fuzzy solution agents interact to form the holonic fuzzy module agents. Self-embedding of holonic fuzzy module agents, which is the fundamental property of the holonic structure, is also characterized by vertical and horizontal communication. The flexibility and agility of the software agent make the holonic structure of intelligent modules adaptable. An application illustrates the proposed intelligent modular design.

Keywords

Modularity / Modular design / Intelligent design / Holonic agents / Product platform / Product variety

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Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China(51205242); Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Action Plan(16111106402)