Petri net-based modeling of hybrid dynamic systems

In this paper a modeling technique for hybrid dynamic systems, using high-level Petri nets, is presented. A hybrid dynamic system is a continuous dynamic system in which discrete events occur. Modeling hybrid dynamic systems is a difficult task, in part because continuous dynamics and discrete event dynamics are captured using entirely different mathematical framework. This paper presents a technique for converting a block diagram model of a continuous dynamic system into an equivalent Petri net. The Petri net model captures both the continuous and discrete event phenomena in the system. Thus, a single unifying formalism based on Petri nets is introduced for modeling hybrid dynamic systems.