Intelligent Systems &
Robotics Laboratory

The main research goal of this program is the study of production systems with use of Petri nets and their extensions. Modeling, analysis, synthesis, supervisory control and performance evaluation of random topology production systems with use of Petri nets comprise the main research objectives of this project.

The main stages of the methodology under implementation are:

• Definition of the operational conditions, resources and events of the systems under study. Definition of the distributions followed, buffer capacities, machine operational rates, breakdowns etc.
• Fundamental production systems modules definition and implementation of their Petri nets models. Implementation of supervisory controller’s Petri net model. Calculation of the equations describing net’s behavior.
• Study and verification of fundamental Petri net models properties. Extraction of the corresponding equations for generalized multi-product systems models. Implementation with the appropriate Petri net software tool for validation of modules properties through simulation.
• Definition of the necessary conditions for modules composition for complicated production systems representation. Complicated systems properties calculation according to fundamental modules corresponding properties. Complicated systems validation through simulations.
• Implementation of alternative modules models using Petri nets extensions (hierarchical time extended Petri nets, hybrid Petri nets). Special cases of production systems.
• Problems of behavior control of systems model. Behavior study through different scenarios simulations. Comparison of the results with the respective results of different methods.

The project was funded by the Greek Secretariat for Research and Technology through the EU Bilateral Agreements Program Greece – Slovenia 2002-2004. The institutions that participated in the project are the Technical University of Crete, Greece and the University of Maribor, Slovenia).