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

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.