MASYM, a Framework to Deploy Synchronized Industrial Systems Based on Any ABM Simulator

© 2015 IEEE. This paper presents MASYM (Model, Architecture, Synchronizer and Methodology) framework to develop and deploy industrial system controllers. MASYM integrates an agent-based model and architecture, a synchronization middleware and a development and deployment methodology. Agent-based model (ABM) simulations created within MASYM can run synchronized with reality, thus being able to perform control operations. As a consequence, the development of these 'synchronized' systems is straightforward on any ABM simulator. The MASYM framework has been validated on a realistic multi-robot transportation system for automated laboratories. Results show the advantages of this framework and provide an opportunity to validate its industrial application.