Evolvable assembly systems: From evaluation to application

Abstract

Presented in 2002, and applied within the EUPASS and A3 projects, Evolvable Assembly Systems proposes a novel way of applying assembly systems in industry. The essence of EAS resides not only in the ability of system components to adapt to the changing conditions of operation, but also to assist in the evolution of these components in time such that processes may become more robust. The main features of Evolvable systems include distributed control, a modularized, intelligent and open architecture, and a comprehensive and multi dimensional methodological support that comprises the reference architecture. The work has been, and is being, implemented through large European research projects. Evolvability being a system concept, it is envisaged to address every aspect of an assembly system throughout its life cycle, i.e., design and development, operation and evolution. Furthermore, integration of legacy subsystems and modules have been addressed in the methodology. This article will present the latest developments, applications and conclusions drawn to date. © 2008 International Federation for Information Processing.