Abstract
New manufacturing control architectures rely on the decentralization of the system entities to handle in a more effective way the current constraints imposed to the highly dynamic manufacturing world. Despite of their benefits, these architectures miss the performance levels of those achieved by traditional centralized systems running without failures. This paper proposes a holonic multi-agent system architecture, based on ADACOR foundations, which considers the self-organization concept to create a two vector solution embedded in micro and macro levels. The paper describes the self-organization mechanism embed at the micro level, named behavioural self-organization, being validated using the AIP-PRIMECA flexible manufacturing system.

Abstract
The manufacturing industry is facing a technology paradigm change, as also captured in the Industrie 4.0 vision as the fourth industrial revolution. Future smart industries will require to optimize not only their own manufacturing processes but also the use of products and manufacturing resources, their maintenance and their recycling. In this context the strengths and weaknesses of two key concepts, namely Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) and Intelligent Product (IP) are discussed, and it is suggested that an integration of these two approaches to meet the introduced emergent requirements is beneficial. The integration of CPS and IP is shown via two real-world industrial cases, covering different phases of the product life-cycle, namely the production, use and maintenance phases.

Abstract
Recursive Systems are often needed or recommended for automatically deploy or build a software system composed of multiple entities on a large network, or on distributed locations, without a central control. We use the recursive definitions proposed in holonic systems, as the recursiveness is an elemental structural property of their structure. Holonic systems are used to be implemented usingMAS technologies (platforms) on the basis of the shared functional properties of autonomy and cooperation of agents and holons. This paper discusses the adequacy of the actualMAS technologies for holonic recursiveness implementation. A comparison of MAS platforms is done through a framework that will guide the decisions of designers and developers. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2013.

Abstract
Multiple software agent-based solutions have been developed during the last decades, and applied with varying success to different domains offering control, reconfiguration, diagnosis, monitoring, etc. However, the promise that they once posed in terms of a new alternative decentralized approach offering modularity, flexibility and robustness, is only partially fulfilled. This paper investigates some key factors, i.e., design, technology, intelligence/algorithms, standardization, hardware, challenges, application and cost, which are hypothesized to be linked to the Industrial Agent acceptance. Empirical data was acquired via a conducted survey, and statistically analyzed to investigate the support of the posed hypotheses. The results indicate that all the factors are seen important issues that play a role toward deciding for or against an industrial agent solution.

Abstract
Renewable energy sources are one key enabler to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and to cope with the anthropogenic climate change. Their intermittent behavior and limited storage capabilities present a new challenge to power system operators to maintain power quality and reliability. Additional technical complexity arises from the large number of small distributed generation units and their allocation within the power system. Market liberalization and changing regulatory framework lead to additional organizational complexity. As a result, the design and operation of the future electric energy system have to be redefined. Sophisticated information and communication architectures, automation concepts, and control approaches are necessary in order to manage the higher complexity of so-called smart grids. This paper provides an overview of the state of the art and recent developments enabling higher intelligence in future smart grids. The integration of renewable sources and storage systems into the power grids is analyzed. Energy management and demand response methods and important automation paradigms and domain standards are also reviewed.

Abstract
The integration of ICT technologies will contribute to meet the objectives of smart grids by applying intelligent strategies to implement their automation functions. The use of the real electrical power energy infrastructure is hardly to be managed. The use of simulation constitutes an alternative to model and test in a simple way these complex power electrical grids, improving the system's reliability, resilience and stability. However, power simulators don't reflect the unpredictable behaviours caused by the collaborative interference of intelligent and cognitive systems, being required an easy and transparent platform to interconnect the intelligent control with the power emulator platforms. This paper introduces a two-layer framework integrating multi-agent-based control systems with power simulator tools, allowing to create a virtual environment to test and simulate the different control strategies and helping the deployment of the future smart grid concept. An instantiation of this framework is deeply analysed for the use of GridLab-D as power simulation tool.