Complexity-Oriented Evaluation of Production Systems for Online-Switching of Autonomous Control Methods

Production control and its characteristics can be seen as a key factor for handling enhancing dynamic and complex circumstance of production systems. Especially autonomous control methods (ACMs) are considered as an expedient solution for dealing with increasing dynamic and complexity of production and logistic processes. The logistic efficiency of the different ACMs varies greatly depending on the conditions of the respective production scenario and its current complexity and dynamic. This fact motivates to switch the recently used ACM in a given production system during runtime. The central key requirement for this prospective procedure is the appropriate evaluation of the complexity state of production systems. In this paper, current methods for complexity oriented evaluation of production systems and its focused complexity drivers are analyzed. After this, the relevance and interdependencies of possible complexity drivers in the field of autonomous control is focused and represented by an influencing matrix. In addition, simulation studies regarding applicable complexity drivers and used production scenarios in the field of autonomous control are analyzed. As as result, it could be derived that especially dynamic and external complexity drivers should be addressed during online switching of ACMs.