A new paradigm for distributed, integrated, real-time control systems

To exploit the potential offered by integrated intelligent control systems, it is essential that underlying architectures are available that are able to integrate not only hardware and software, but also human beings into the control loop. By studying the way that a human workforce operates, this paper suggests how a human systems analogy can be drawn up that highlighted some fundamental differences between the way that humanbased, and computer-based systems operate. One of the key differences is that humans are able to reason not only logically, but also in terms of time. This paper addresses the philosphy behind the DENIS architecture — a distributed architecture that enables this high level of compatability between autonomous intelligent agents.