A Petri net based task scheduler as a real-time FMS controller

摘要

Petri nets are particularly useful to model distributed systems with dynamic sequential dependencies, e.g. automated manufacturing systems. The Petri net based system modelling tool developed by the group has been extended to incorporate the capability to control real-time distributed systems. The graphical front end based on a Petri net model is able to interact with multiple remote controllers specified by the designer. The temporal information from the real time application can be fed back to the Petri net and used for further analysis. In order to illustrate the useability of this extension, the tool is used as a real-time FMS controller to drive a distributed system consisting of three robots, six conveyor belts and sensors, and three remote controllers.