Chapter 20
Part Agents for Exchanging Modules
of Manipulators
Yuki Fukazawa, Yuichi Honda, and Hiroyuki Hiraoka
Abstract To realize the reuse of mechanical parts for the development of a sustainable society, it is necessary to manage individual parts throughout their life cycles.
For this purpose, we develop a part agent system using network agents and RFID
(radio-frequency identification) technology. To reuse machine parts effectively, we
have developed functions of a part agent to predict its deterioration based on the operation history and deterioration information of the part, and to select an appropriate
reuse partner based on consumer preference information. To verify the functions of
the part agent system, we develop a three-degree-of-freedom (3-DOF) manipulator
with modules that can be exchanged, and perform a module exchange experiment.
This manipulator is composed of multiple modules that we designed to be easily
exchanged. A part agent assigned to a module controls the module, collects its deterioration information, and manages its data. In addition, a part agent that manages
a manipulator cooperates with part agents of other manipulators to select a module
that is suitable for exchange with its own module. In this paper, we propose a module
exchange method for manipulators using part agents. We also discuss the issues
involved in exchanging modules and the solutions to these issues.
Keywords Part agent · Reuse · Life cycle · Manipulator · Circulating society
20.1 Introduction
In recent years, excessive environmental load caused by mass production, mass
consumption, and mass disposal has become a problem. It is urgent to promote
the efficient utilization of resources from production to distribution, consumption,
and disposal, and to form a circular type of society with a small load on the environment (Hauschild et al. 2005). The promotion of 3R (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) is
indispensable in realizing this type of society. In particular, reuse should be strongly
promoted because it is efficient to reuse used products and parts as they are. However,
Y. Fukazawa · Y. Honda (B) · H. Hiraoka
Department of Precision Mechanics, Chuo University, Tokyo, Japan
e-mail: honda@lcps.mech.chuo-u.ac.jp
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
Y. Kishita et al. (eds.), EcoDesign and Sustainability I, Sustainable Production, Life Cycle
Engineering and Management, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6779-7_20
281
Part Agents for Exchanging Modules
of Manipulators
Yuki Fukazawa, Yuichi Honda, and Hiroyuki Hiraoka
Abstract To realize the reuse of mechanical parts for the development of a sustainable society, it is necessary to manage individual parts throughout their life cycles.
For this purpose, we develop a part agent system using network agents and RFID
(radio-frequency identification) technology. To reuse machine parts effectively, we
have developed functions of a part agent to predict its deterioration based on the operation history and deterioration information of the part, and to select an appropriate
reuse partner based on consumer preference information. To verify the functions of
the part agent system, we develop a three-degree-of-freedom (3-DOF) manipulator
with modules that can be exchanged, and perform a module exchange experiment.
This manipulator is composed of multiple modules that we designed to be easily
exchanged. A part agent assigned to a module controls the module, collects its deterioration information, and manages its data. In addition, a part agent that manages
a manipulator cooperates with part agents of other manipulators to select a module
that is suitable for exchange with its own module. In this paper, we propose a module
exchange method for manipulators using part agents. We also discuss the issues
involved in exchanging modules and the solutions to these issues.
Keywords Part agent · Reuse · Life cycle · Manipulator · Circulating society
20.1 Introduction
In recent years, excessive environmental load caused by mass production, mass
consumption, and mass disposal has become a problem. It is urgent to promote
the efficient utilization of resources from production to distribution, consumption,
and disposal, and to form a circular type of society with a small load on the environment (Hauschild et al. 2005). The promotion of 3R (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) is
indispensable in realizing this type of society. In particular, reuse should be strongly
promoted because it is efficient to reuse used products and parts as they are. However,
Y. Fukazawa · Y. Honda (B) · H. Hiraoka
Department of Precision Mechanics, Chuo University, Tokyo, Japan
e-mail: honda@lcps.mech.chuo-u.ac.jp
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
Y. Kishita et al. (eds.), EcoDesign and Sustainability I, Sustainable Production, Life Cycle
Engineering and Management, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6779-7_20
281