A Discrete-Event System Approach to Multi-Agent Distributed Control of Container Terminals

The area of modelling and controlling intermodal terminal systems is relatively new. The paradigms of Discrete Event Systems for modelling and of Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) for distributed control seem promising. Many research attempts developed modelling and simulation tools but no standard exists. This paper presents a Discrete Event System model of the agents introduced to describe how a distributed control of the terminal activities can be achieved. The interactions between four classes of agents are detailed. The approach is useful to develop a simulation platform to test MAS efficiency in terminal management and to measure the performance of static or adapted control strategies.