Multi-agent approach for representing cyber-physical system of electron beam melting and refining plant

Abstract

Abstract Reliable vacuum control in high-precision installations such as the Electron Beam Melting and Refining (EBMR) plant requires an intelligent architecture that integrates physical subsystems and cyber entities under an adaptive control framework. This paper proposes a multi-agent system (MAS) representation of the EBMR vacuum creation subsystem, developed using the Organizational Multi-Agent Systems Engineering (O-MaSE) methodology. The model unites the IEC 61512 (S88) batch-process standard with the IEC 61499 distributed-control architecture to form a modular and interoperable cyber-physical system (CPS). Each pump, valve, and sensor is modelled as an autonomous agent with defined goals, roles, and communication protocols. The O-MaSE-based design enhances scalability, fault tolerance, and system adaptability, enabling decentralized decision-making and efficient vacuum regulation. The integrated case study demonstrates that MAS-based CPS design substantially improves the responsiveness and resilience of EBMR operations, supporting the principles of Industry 4.0.