Multi-Agent Control in Sociotechnical Systems

Yu Luo

Process control is essential in chemical engineering and has diverse applications in automation, manufacturing, scheduling, etc. In this cross-disciplinary work, we shift the domain focus from the control of machines to the control of multiple intelligent agents. Our goal is to improve the optimization problem-solving process, such as optimal regulation of emerging technologies, in a multi-agent system. Achieving that improvement would have potential value both within and outside the chemical engineering community. This work also illustrates the possibility of applying process systems engineering techniques, especially process control, beyond chemical plants. It is very common to observe crowds of individuals solving similar problems with similar information in a largely independent manner. We argue here that the crowds can become more efficient and robust problem-solvers, by...