Techniques and Applications of Fuzzy Systems Based on the Petri-Net Formalism

Abstract

This chapter presents a classification of recent papers describing fuzzy-Petri-nets (FPN) techniques and applications, discussing three major categories. It also reviews how the Petri-net formalism is used for modeling and representing fuzzy systems. The Petri-net (PN) formalism is a graphical and mathematical tool that provides an environment for the analysis, modeling, and design of discrete event systems. The great expressive capability of PNs, their simplicity as a graphical formalism, and, mainly, their possibilities for modeling dynamic evolving systems have made them a very useful tool for representing very different types of systems: production processes control and communication systems, among many other fields. The description of fuzzy systems is structured into three main categories, ordered by decreasing level of abstraction: theoretical models, where formal definitions of fuzzy Petri nets are presented; techniques, including proposals to use fuzzy Petri nets to modeling some types of fuzzy systems; finally, descriptions of some applications using fuzzy Petri nets on real systems.