IPCA, an architecture for intelligent control

IPCA (Intelligent Process Control Architecture) is an architecture for flexible, intelligent control. IPCA is rooted in the generic task (GT) approach to knowledge-based systems and incorporates plan generation and real-time plan execution monitoring components. The plan generation component produces a state-based process control plan representation which typically contains a collection of possible paths from initial to desired process states. Selection of the precise path taken through the process control plan is determined by a plan execution monitoring component. The plan execution monitor incrementally determines in real time appropriate partial paths through the process control plan based on sensory input gathered from real-time process monitoring. This real-time selection of appropriate plan fragments and control methods contained in the process control plan is facilitated through the use of a sponsor-selector mechanism. The usefulness of this approach to intelligent control is demonstrated by applying the architecture to the control of a microwave-based composite material fabrication process. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of IPCA in this domain.