RMAS architecture for industrial agents in IEC 61499

This paper analyses an architecture, recently proposed and under development, that aims to render the design and the development of multi-agent systems viable for the vision and the needs of the industry in the cyber-physical systems era. Prominent standardization work is currently focusing on the IEC 61499 standard as a most promising basis for the integration of industrial agents in the real field. In this context, authors propose RMAS (Relational Multi-Agent System) as a possible useful aid and means for the researches and the practices in the field. On this purpose, the compliances and the possible overlaps between the major features and capabilities of RMAS and IEC 61499 are assessed and discussed. This work aims to constitute a position paper for the future possible developments around IEC 61499.