Multi-faceted modelling of flexible manufacturing systems using a minimax algebraic Petri net representation

The application of an algebraic representation for a restricted class of decision-free Petri nets to a typical flexible manufacturing system (FMS) problem is considered. A new mapping is introduced to the complex number field for the time-event information-states, which allows the algebraic representation to be readily manipulated numerically. The utility of this approach is illustrated with the MATLAB package and applied to an example. The application of the multi-faceted modeling approach to FMS type problems is demonstrated. A combination of Petri nets is used for high-level abstraction of the controlled processes. A minimax algebraic representation for restricted decision-free Petri nets is used as the modeling mechanism to combine both abstraction levels to produce a "multi-model" of the FMS. The model can then be used to analyze system performance.<>