In: Journal of Intelligent and Robotic Systems, Vol. 10, No. 1, pages 79-108. 1994.
Abstract: This paper describes, models, analyzes and simulates an intelligent materials handling system with diagnostic intelligence capabilities using Extended Petri Nets (EPNs). The important modeled system properties of safeness, liveness and reversibility, which guarantee that the system operates in a stable, deadlock free and cyclic manner are verified and illustrated through the simulation results, obtained through an EPN based software package. A real system, the USL CIM system, modified to function as an intelligent materials handling system with on-line adaptation capabilities is used as a case study.
Keywords: extended Petri nets, hierarchical decomposition, material handling systems.