ABSTRACT
Cognitive automation of assembly processes can be seen as promising approach to overcome the vicious circle of automation. On the basis of the cognitive architecture SOAR a cognitive control unit (CCU) was developed which is able to simulate human information processing at a rule-based level of cognitive control. Thus, the CCU can plan assembly processes autonomously and can react to changes in assembly processes due to increasing number of products that have to be assembled in a large variety in production space as well as changing or uncertain conditions. Towards a “Humanoid-Mode” for automated assembly systems comparable to the horse-metaphor for automated vehicles human assembly strategies where identified in empirical investigations and formulated as production rules to be included in the knowledgebase of the CCU. Within this contribution exemplary results regarding the effect of such an automation approach on operator’s conformity with expectations regarding system behavior in a supervisory task are presented.
