Model-based Computing for Design and Control of Reconfigurable Systems
Markus P.J. Fromherz, Daniel G. Bobrow, Johan de Kleer
Abstract
Complex electro-mechanical products, such as high-end printers and
photocopiers, are designed as families, with reusable modules put
together in different manufacturable configurations, and the ability
to add new modules in the field. The modules are controlled locally by
software that must take into account the entire configuration. This
poses two problems for the manufacturer. The first is how to make the
overall control architecture adapt to, and use productively, the
inclusion of particular modules. The second is to decide, at design
time, whether a proposed module is a worthwhile addition to the
system: will the resulting system perform enough better to outweigh
the costs of including the module? This paper indicates how the use of
qualitative, constraint-based models provides support for solving both
of these problems. This has become an accepted part of the practice of
Xerox, and the control software is deployed in high-end Xerox
printers.
© 2003 AAAI.
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