Self-organizing multiagent mechatronic systems in perspective

Abstract

This paper discusses the main problematic, misunderstandings and gaps associated with the development of self-organizing multiagent mechatronic systems. The paper reflects the authors' experience in designing and implementing Multiagent Mechatronic Systems. It also partly addresses the work developed under the FP7 IDEAS project (rated an EU FP7 success story) as a clarifying, but not unique, example. In this respect the paper presents a critical overview on how the existing technology is close to support the automation concepts envisioned by emerging production paradigms that rely on Emergence and Self-Organization as main constructs of the system and why technology alone should be understand as only a mean and not a end.