Integrated and intelligent control system for a flexible manufacturing cell

This paper presents a detailed discussion of a number of important issues associated with an integrated intelligent control system (IICS) using a knowledge-based approach for a flexible manufacturing cell (FMC). The architecture of the system consists of several functional modules for design, planning, sensing, control, error recovery and the actions of the cell's devices. These modules are: the CAD-based user interface; the product data model; a process planner module; a knowledge based system; a cell organiser module; the sensory system; the control module; and an error detection and recovery module. All are linked together in a structure which is based on a three level, hierarchical, intelligent-machine architecture. The developed system in total is capable of performing various manufacturing tasks without requiring any human support, even under the influence of uncertain or unexpected conditions.