Petri net based programming system for FMS

Abstract

A programming system, called K-NET, for the development of control software for FMS is described. K-NET is based on a Petri net, which makes it simple to express operational functions such as synchronization, interlock, and concurrency in sequence controls, K-NET uses a stochastic high-level Petri net in which tokens can have attributes, and which can provide notions of time and probability. K-NET can support all development stages including general design, detailed design, programming, and testing. K-NET has been used in the development of control software for an automated guided vehicle system, and results show a significant cost-saving over development with conventional methods in which only a procedural language is used.<>