Towards context-aware smart mechatronics networks: Integrating Swarm Intelligence and Ambient Intelligence

With the state of the art advancements in internet technology and wireless communication and consistent miniaturization in electronics hardware, the recent trend in engineering and research has been to embed everyday objects with computers and communication. This computing power and communication capability is imparted to the objects by adding compact and small silicon chips equipped with micro-processors and sensors to these objects. Such ubiquitous availability of internet coupled with wireless communication protocols makes information processing a ubiquitous process permeating almost every type of object. These objects are also capable of gathering environmental knowledge with the help of embedded micro sensors which helps them to perceive their surroundings and reason effectively. As the environments in which these objects are deployed usually tend to be volatile and dynamic, therefore pre-programming them with specific types of response could lead to lesser agile systems. To enable these devices to take faster and optimum decisions in changing environments, they must be provided with a computationally intelligent dimension. This paper presents a novel architecture that integrates Swarm Intelligence and Ambient Intelligence to enable advanced mechatronics devices to take optimum and context-aware decisions in changing environmental conditions. The proposed concept of intelligent cyberphysical systems aims to make human life simpler, safe and efficient using ambient intelligence and abundant availability if internet. The proposed concept brings about a transformation of today´s smart and advanced mechatronics systems to turn into populations of smart devices, exchanging information and optimizing global behavior.