Adaptive multiagent control system for controlling object motion with smart matter
US6027112A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 2, 1998 |
| Grant date | Feb 22, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 2, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65H2557/33
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A multi-agent control system controls a transport assembly for moving objects. The transport assembly is formed using sensors and actuators that are proximately coupled in physical space. The multi-agent control system includes a learning mechanism which takes advantage of the proximate coupling between the sensors and actuators. The learning mechanism improves system performance by making iterative changes to an interaction matrix that represents the organizational structure of the multi-agent control system. In operation, the learning mechanism makes iterative changes to several of the elements a.sub.ij, of the interaction matrix at one time, around a randomly chosen location (i,j) in the matrix. Changes to the interaction matrix continue to be made so long as the changes result in improved performance of the transport assembly. Advantageously, the learning mechanism enables the multi-agent control system to control the transport assembly without requiring knowledge of specific operating characteristics of the transport assembly.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.