Discrete Event Simulation of Biological Control Processes and its Application to Autonomous Decision-Making in Manufacturing Systems |
Novelty & Timeliness
The work proposed is novel in that it will represent a first attempt at combining two quite distinct biological levels on the same M&S software and the first attempt at using biological control and regulation principles to control a complex manufacturing system. With the levels of both complexity and variability inherent in manufacturing systems increasing rapidly the design, planning and control of such environments efficiently and responsively will require significantly improved techniques. The use of these biologically-inspired principles may offer a timely and unique way of achieving this control autonomously. This research, therefore, proposes novel approaches that could be of significant benefit to both Systems Biologists and Manufacturing Systems Engineers and which could provide the potential for radical improvements in IOS operations design, planning, scheduling and control.