Intelligent control-maintenance-management system (ICMMS) based on multi-agent system

In order to realize the integration of control, maintenance and technical management of a process automation system, a MAS-based model for the ICMMS is presented. This model has a distributed and hierarchical structure, which meets the needs of the information and function integration of ICMMS for the whole automation system. The structures, functions and cooperation relationship of these agents are discussed. The function distribution and integration of ICMMS can be easily implemented due to the capability of autonomy and cooperation of the agents within this model. The proposed model is applied to an ICMMS platform for Hydroelectric Generating Unit (HGU), in which the inter-agent communications are realized through Profibus-FMS network. The test results show the rationality of this MAS-based model.