Over the next ten years integrated distributed intelligent systems (IDIS) techniques will be widely used in modern manufacturing and will quicken the development and applications of distributed artificial intelligence (AI). This book describes the concept, methodology, architecture, construction and implementation techniques of IDIS as well as their applications in real-world manufacturing. Its contents spans some high technology areas, including advanced manufacturing technology, advanced process control, AI in engineering applications, advanced industrial automation and distributed AI. In essence, the book presents the state-of-the-art technology in manufacturing systems and the newest development in distributed AI. Applications in both discrete and continuous manufacturing are featured in the text. This text should be useful for teaching graduate and senior undergraduate students, in advanced manufacturing systems and distributed AI courses. It should also assist professorial research staff in tracing the most recent technology in distributed AI, and can be used as a self-instruction tutoring book for retraining engineers in manufacturing and process industries.
