Modeling and Control of Deadlocks in a Flexible Maciming Cell

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a growing need for Flexible Machining Cells to cope up with the demand for small and medium-batch products. Controlling processes in a Flexible Machining Cell is more difficult compared to conventional manufacturing systems. This is primarily due to the concurrent and asynchronous interaction of events which cause system deadlocks. An approach to model the controls of a cell for a given process specification is presented. Petri Nets was used as the modeling formalism. An algorithm is used to test the model for deadlock occurrences. The results obtained from this research indicates the scope for designing adaptive control procedures capable of on-line applications.