Applying Component-based Petri Net to Model Workcell Workflow

This paper proposes a method component-based Petri net (CBPN) to model the workflow of a workcell, which is usually a basic unit of a flexible manufacturing system (FMS). An efficient design method for workcells is the key factor to implement the FMSs. CBPN is a systematic method based on analyzing the functional requirements and behavior specifications. CBPN contains two sub-models: requirement model and composition model, and integrates the top-down hierarchical decomposition to refine requirements and components and bottom-up composition to combine sub-modules. In this paper, the CBPN was illustrated by an example of a workcell. The conservativeness of component-based systems can be verified by matrix analysis model of Petri net, e.g. the P-invariant and T-invariant, which corresponding to the component properties.