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A Multi-agent based Cooperation System for an Intelligent Earthwork

지능형 토공을 위한 멀티에이전트 기반 협업시스템

  • 김성근 (서울과학기술대학교 건설시스템디자인공학과)
  • Received : 2014.06.25
  • Accepted : 2014.07.10
  • Published : 2014.10.01

Abstract

A number of studies have been conducted recently regarding the development of automation systems for the construction sector. Much of this attention has focused on earthwork because it is highly dependent on construction machines and is regarded as being basic for the construction of buildings and civil works. For example, technologies are being developed in order to enable earthwork planning based on construction site models that are constructed by automatic systems and to enable construction equipment to perform the work based on the plan and the environment. There are many problems that need to be solved in order to enable the use of automatic earthwork systems in construction sites. For example, technologies are needed for enabling collaborations between similar and different kinds of construction equipment. This study aims to develop a construction system that imitates collaborative systems and decision-making methods that are used by humans. The proposed system relies on the multi-agent concept from the field of artificial intelligence. In order to develop a multi-agent-based system, configurations and functions are proposed for the agents and a framework for collaboration and arbitration between agents is presented. Furthermore, methods are introduced for preventing duplicate work and minimizing interference effects during the collaboration process. Methods are also presented for performing advance planning for the excavators and compactors that are involved in the construction. The current study suggests a theoretical framework and evaluates the results using virtual simulations. However, in the future, an empirical study will be conducted in order to apply these concepts to actual construction sites through the development of a physical system.

최근 건설분야에 적용될 수 있는 자동화 시스템 개발을 위한 연구가 많이 수행되고 있다. 자동화 기술 적용시 효과가 높은 공종 중에서 건설기계의 의존도가 높고, 건축 및 토목공사에서 기본 공종인 토공을 대상으로 연구가 진행되어 왔다. 공사현장의 모델을 구축하여 자동화 시스템이 토공계획을 수립할 수 있는 기술과 단일 건설장비가 주어진 정보와 환경을 인지하여 작업을 수행할 수 있도록 하는 기술이 개발되었다. 자동화 토공시스템이 현장에 적용되기 위해서 해결되어야 할 문제들이 여전히 많이 있지만, 그중에서 중요한 한 가지가는 다수 및 다종의 건설장비들이 협업작업을 수행할 수 있도록 하는 기술을 제공해야만 하는 것이다. 본 연구에서는 사람들의 협업시스템과 의사결정 방법을 모방한 건설시공 시스템을 개발하는 것을 목표로 하고 있으며, 시스템 개발을 위하여 인공지능 분야에서 사용하고 있는 멀티에이전트 개념을 적용하였다. 멀티에이전트 기반 시스템 개발을 위하여 에이전트의 구성과 기능을 제안하고 있으며, 에이전트간 협업 및 중재를 위한 프레임워크를 제시하였다. 그리고 투입되는 건설장비인 다수의 굴삭기와 다짐장비의 효율적인 진로계획과 협업작업시 간섭효과의 최소화 및 중복작업 방지를 위한 방안도 제시하였다. 아직은 이론적인 개념을 제시하고 있는 단계로 가상 시뮬레이션에 의하여 효과를 검증하고 있으나, 추후에는 물리적인 시스템의 구축을 통하여 현장에 적용하기 위한 실증연구를 수행해야 할 것이다.

Keywords

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