The Architecture of the NBS Factory Automation Research Testbed

Published

April 1, 1987

Author(s)

Charles R. McLean, Peter Brown

Abstract

A small batch manufacturing system testbed, currently under construction at the U.S. National Bureau of Standards (NBS), is designed to support research in factory automation standards. One of the expressed goals of the NBS Automated Manufacturing Research Facility (AMRF) project is the specification of the interfaces which must exist between component systems of automated factories. Undoubtedly, factories will eventually be constructed from modules that are offered as plug compatible products by different systems vendors. These vendors will need a standard factory model or system architecture for planning and implementing external interfaces to their proprietary systems. This paper discusses the AMRF factory architecture in terms of five major groups of subsystmes: User Data Interface Devices, Hierarchical Manufacturing Management, Network Communications, Distributed Data Administration, and Shop Floor Hardware. Fundamental concepts and implementation architecture is presented for each group of subsystems.

Proceedings Title

Proceedings of the 10th IPAC World Congress

Conference Location

, USA

Pub Type

Conferences

Keywords

Automated Manufacturing Research Facility (AMRF), automation standards, User Data Interface Devices, Hierarchical Manufacturing Management, Network Communications, Distributed Data Administration, Shop Floor Hardware

Citation

McLean, C. and Brown, P. (1987), The Architecture of the NBS Factory Automation Research Testbed, Proceedings of the 10th IPAC World Congress, , USA (Accessed July 27, 2024)