Distributed negotiation and optimization in an agent-based manufacturing environment

Abstract

In multi-agent based manufacturing system, each agent has the capability of intelligence, communication and autonomy. The task distribution and partners' selection are based on each agent's capability and its interest. The agent will get some profits and interests by finishing the specific tasks. There are lots or works reported on the method of task distribution aiming at this problem. Contract Net Protocol (CNP) (FIPA 2000) is one common basis for the negotiation and optimization in such distributed environment. In this paper, one distributed negotiation and optimization method based on the modified CNP process is proposed to effectively realize distributed negotiation and optimization aiming at multi-agent based manufacturing system. In this method, the manager agent will monitor the progress of the bidding and negotiation and notify to the possible candidate agents for the further optimization. During the negotiation process, the manager agent can set the upper or lower limits for the bidding proposals. By this criterion, some incapable bidding proposals and agents will be eliminated from the candidate list, and let the better proposals remained for the further process. One better expected or optimized result compared with standard CNP process can be achieved by this method. In the end of this paper, an example prototype on a manufacturing cooperation is used to verify the methodology proposed.