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An experiment in distributed manufacturing control

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Abstract

Local area networks are used in industrial control applications that require the digital interconnection of low-level devices such as transducers, actuators and simple controllers. It is possible to use such interconnections solely as a wiring alternative to the traditional star-connected computer controllers and to leave the control of the application with one ‘central’ computer. However, using a local area network to connect intelligent low-level devices opens up the possibility of applying a distributed control methodology to the application. This paper describes the application of a distributed control approach to a work cell previously based around a single, large programmable logic controller. Comparisons of the two approaches are made in an attempt to quantify the effect of this new approach on the metrics of the work cell.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematical Sciences, Lancaster University, LA1 4YR, Lancaster, UK

    B. Armitage,  D. Hutchison & A. Skinner

Authors
  1. B. Armitage
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  2. D. Hutchison
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  3. A. Skinner
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Armitage, B., Hutchison, D. & Skinner, A. An experiment in distributed manufacturing control. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 7, 231–237 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02601629

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02601629

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