MICANTSGabor KarsaiGreg NordstromChris vanBuskirkJon DoyleVera KetelboeterGeorge BloorRuss Currer

Vanderbilt/ISIS

MIT

BoeingIdea Services

Benoit DawantKarlkim SuwanmongkolPatrick NorrisJonathan Sprinkle

CACE/MICANTS [10/00]

MICANTS Goals

•How to useHow to useAgents/Negotiation technologyAgents/Negotiation technology

to solve complex resource to solve complex resource management problems in (Autonomic) management problems in (Autonomic) LogisticsLogistics

•To demonstrate the feasibility of the To demonstrate the feasibility of the technology through technology through real-lifereal-life example(s) example(s)

CACE/MICANTS [10/00]

Roles Vanderbilt/ISIS MIC, implementation, and demonstration

MIT Concepts, algorithms

Boeing Modeling, domain knowledge

Idea Services Domain expertise and scenarios, customer

interface

http://www.isis.vanderbilt.edu/Projects/micants/micants.htm

CACE/MICANTS [10/00]

BackgroundAgents/Negotiation Technology

Constraints

manages

Constraints

manages

CONFLICT

negotiation

Mutually acceptable,Negotiated solution

satisfiessatisfies

Objective: “Good enough solutions/soon enough”

CACE/MICANTS [10/00]

Vision: Vision: Agent-supported Maintenance Agent-supported Maintenance ProcessProcess

discrepancy report

MMCO

Flight Schedule

Shop Maintenance

Schedule

Assign mechanic

negotiate

negotiate

W/C OIC

Goal:Assistance through offering negotiated options

optio

ns

appro

ve

repo

rt

optio

ns

appro

ve

negotiate

optio

ns

appro

ve

Autonomic response

MMCO(sister

squadron)

Agents:•“Helpers” for the users•“Wired” to implement CO’s intent, business rules, and user guidance•Negotiate solutions autonomically•Offer options for approval

Commander’s

Commander’sIntentIntent

CAUTION: Simplified CAUTION: Simplified picturepicture

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MAPLANT:MAPLANT: MAintenance PLanning AgeNTs

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Agents for the users

Maintenance Control Chief’s AgentReceives and logs gripesNegotiates with MALS and W/C-sBarters with sister squadronShows canni optionsEvent status display

Event/AC assignmentsAC status over time“What-if”s

Maintenance Control Chief’s AgentReceives and logs gripesNegotiates with MALS and W/C-sBarters with sister squadronShows canni optionsEvent status display

Event/AC assignmentsAC status over time“What-if”s

Work Center Supervisor’s Agent Schedules calendar-based MAsProposes schedule(s)Schedule displays (with options)

Work Center Supervisor’s Agent Schedules calendar-based MAsProposes schedule(s)Schedule displays (with options)

Helper “agents”Aircraft (health status)Mission (events, flight schedule)Jobs (maintenance actions)Workers (maintainers)MALS

Helper “agents”Aircraft (health status)Mission (events, flight schedule)Jobs (maintenance actions)Workers (maintainers)MALS

Current prototypeCurrent prototype

CACE/MICANTS [10/00]

How does it work? What can it do?

M/C StartupEvent Status Board (M/C)

Event times EVT/AC assignmentA/C status (OK, down, repair)

M/C StartupEvent Status Board (M/C)

Event times EVT/AC assignmentA/C status (OK, down, repair)

Current prototypeCurrent prototype

W/C StartupSchedules calendar-based MAs

Input: Job list with time and MOS requirementsWorker pool with qualifications

Output:Jobs scheduled and assigned to workers

W/C StartupSchedules calendar-based MAs

Input: Job list with time and MOS requirementsWorker pool with qualifications

Output:Jobs scheduled and assigned to workers

Constraint-based scheduling:Task “start-after”s, “ends-before”-s, and durationsTask precedenceResource constraintsAlternatives/flex assignments

Helper startupAircraft (health status)Mission (events, flight schedule)Jobs (maintenance actions)Workers (maintainers)

Helper startupAircraft (health status)Mission (events, flight schedule)Jobs (maintenance actions)Workers (maintainers)

CACE/MICANTS [10/00]

How does it work? What can it do?

M/C receives gripe/diagnosisStatus Board: shows conflictsSelection: A/C + GripeOptions:

Standard procedure (MALS) Barter (with other M/C) Canni (if possible)

Evaluation: Check effects on flight

schedule

Changes: Accept/refuse proposed MA AC to event assignment

M/C receives gripe/diagnosisStatus Board: shows conflictsSelection: A/C + GripeOptions:

Standard procedure (MALS) Barter (with other M/C) Canni (if possible)

Evaluation: Check effects on flight

schedule

Changes: Accept/refuse proposed MA AC to event assignment

Current prototypeCurrent prototype

W/C operation:Reactive (re-)scheduling

Input: New job with time and MOS requirementsAll “old” jobs

Output: (for approval)Multiple schedule options for new job

W/C operation:Reactive (re-)scheduling

Input: New job with time and MOS requirementsAll “old” jobs

Output: (for approval)Multiple schedule options for new job

MALS:Reply with time for part availability

MALS:Reply with time for part availability

Sister squadron M/C:Reply with time for part availability

Sister squadron M/C:Reply with time for part availability

A/C in maintenance:Reply with time parameters

A/C in maintenance:Reply with time parameters

CACE/MICANTS [10/00]

How does it work? What can it do?

M/C “smarts” Shows/warns about conflicts with flight scheduleKeeps track of current/pending MAsDisplays available options when “repairing” AC/EVT allocationsDetects A/C in repair that can be utilized in canni Can arrange barter with other M/C’s agent“What-if”

Effect of the selected MA on the flight schedule

Suggests possible optimizations Swaps (possibly with other

squadron) “Milking”

M/C “smarts” Shows/warns about conflicts with flight scheduleKeeps track of current/pending MAsDisplays available options when “repairing” AC/EVT allocationsDetects A/C in repair that can be utilized in canni Can arrange barter with other M/C’s agent“What-if”

Effect of the selected MA on the flight schedule

Suggests possible optimizations Swaps (possibly with other

squadron) “Milking”

Current prototypeCurrent prototype

W/C “smarts”Rapid schedule generationMultiple schedule optionsOptions are evaluated/ranked

Flexible schedule choicesTentative scheduling choice, confirmed later

W/C “smarts”Rapid schedule generationMultiple schedule optionsOptions are evaluated/ranked

Flexible schedule choicesTentative scheduling choice, confirmed later

Initial data from warehouse:Aircraft (health status)Mission (events, flight schedule) Jobs (maintenance actions)Workers (maintainers)

Initial data from warehouse:Aircraft (health status)Mission (events, flight schedule) Jobs (maintenance actions)Workers (maintainers)

CACE/MICANTS [10/00]

The details

Current prototypeCurrent prototype

Scenario walk-through (Greg Nordstrom)Demo (Chris vanBuskirk)

WE APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT!WE APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT!PLEASE TELL US WHAT YOU THINK!PLEASE TELL US WHAT YOU THINK!

WE APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT!WE APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT!PLEASE TELL US WHAT YOU THINK!PLEASE TELL US WHAT YOU THINK!

CACE/MICANTS [10/00]

Summary/DiscussionAgents that negotiate and offer choices to users

Scheduling, operational choices,optimization

User-driven tools Input side: guidance Output side: choices In between: automatic when feasible

Plans: Strengthening the implementation(robustness,GUI,etc.) Refinement of functionalities (metrics, etc.) Guidance input capability Optimization capability (with user customization) Cooperation with flight scheduling

Discussion: YOUR feedback