Multi-agent based information access services for condition monitoring in process automation

This paper studies issues concerning the application of goal-oriented information agents to condition monitoring tasks in process automation. In the presented approach, an agent-based information access layer is operating as a mediator for various types of process-related information. The agent system may be seen as an active partner for human users in this information intensive application domain. In the future, more and more automation related information will be available in electronic form. Physical sensors provide not only measurements but also reliability information, and numerous configuration details are available in electronic form. The challenge is to integrate as much of the available information as possible, and to automate the processing of this information to enable easy decision-making for end users.