Abstract
Nowadays, manufacturing control system faces the challenge of featuring optimal and reactive mechanisms to respond to volatile environments. In automation domain, hybrid control architectures solve these requirements as it allows coupling predictive/proactive and reactive techniques in manufacturing operations. However, to include dynamic coupling features, it is necessary to characterize the possible new operating modes and visualize its potential when a switching is needed. This paper presents an approach to characterize the operating modes of dynamic hybrid control architectures to support the dynamic switching process. The results, obtained through a simulation in a multi agent platform of flexible manufacturing systems, showed the interest of our approach in terms of including the characterization of operating modes as decisional criteria towards a system switching. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015.

Abstract
This chapter describes the development, installation, and operation of a multi-agent system, designated as GRACE, integrating quality and process control to operate in a real home appliance production line, producing laundry washing machines owned by Whirlpool and located in Naples, Italy.

Abstract
The smart grid concept defines a new way to architect the power energy system. This evolution is dictated, at large extent, by the need to integrate distributed generation systems,. mainly based on renewable energy sources, consider electrical vehicles and enhance the power system infrastructure in degraded conditions. This change of paradigm implies a modification of the way the networked nodes operate and interconnect, including new control algorithms by introducing decision and action capabilities to controllable devices. This paper introduces an innovative way of modelling each node of the grid based on the holonic paradigm, with the objective of decreasing the number of different control algorithms set up on the grid. A single holon, able to model the behavior of any node (producing, consuming and storing energy), is defined and applied on a low voltage case study.

Abstract

Abstract
Companies are nowadays placed in very complex and dynamic environments, making their competitiveness mandatory. This competitiveness can also be achieved through the reconfiguration of systems' network. In this paper, high level of self-organization of service-oriented multi-agent systems is explored, aiming to achieve more trustworthy and automatic reconfiguration processes, in dynamic and open environments. The correct self-organization model directly impacts the success of agents' behaviours to actively change or create new appropriate services dynamically. This paper advocates on the influence, in a distributed and cooperative way, of risk management, similarities and incentives to work together in order to speed up the self-organization agent's network. By leveraging the SOA and MAS benefits it is possible to reduce time, effort and money. Based on identified benefits and needs, several research leads for my thesis plan are here proposed towards the realization of self-organization capabilities aiming to accomplish more trustworthy and automatic reconfiguration processes, in volatile and open environments.

Abstract
Worldwide systems are increasingly growing into unprecedented complexity levels. This increase of system complexity has to be tackled with new control approaches, where decentralization is playing an important role and particularly the Multi-Agent Systems and Holonic Systems. Despite the benefits of this distribution, new problems arise such as the need for entities coordination. This paper proposes an innovative holonic multi-agent system architecture, named ADACOR2, which sets foundation on the already proved ADACOR architecture. This new control architecture is empowered by a two vector self-organization, called behavioural and structural self-organization. This paper describes the structural self-organization vector, particularizing the need for embedding in it learning techniques and nervousness stabilizer. A futuristic test bed, inspired in a real flexible-manufacturing system, is used to demonstrate the benefits of this vector in the architecture. © 2013 Springer-Verlag.