Toolbox for analysis and synthesis of Petri nets

Abstract

In this paper, we present a classroom tool set for graphical editing, simulation, analysis and synthesis of deadlock free Petri net for automated manufacturing systems. Because of the discrete event nature of modern manufacturing systems, Petri nets have been widely applied in the modeling, control and performance analysis of such systems. The tool set consists of a graphical Petri net editor and simulator implemented in Java (JPNE) and a Petri net analysis and synthesis tool implemented in Matlab. The JPNE generates Petri net description data file, which can be read and parsed by the Matlab tool, and then analysis and synthesis can be performed on the parsed Petri net. The analysis includes reachability and deadlock detection, place-invariants and siphons calculation. The synthesis includes control place augmentation of the Petri nets based on selected minimal uncontrolled siphons. The synthesis process can be recursively applied to a Petri net and the result can be outputted to a data file which in turn can be read and parsed by JPNE and simulation can be run on newly synthesized Petri net. The major contributions are the implemented siphons calculation and the control place synthesis, which are rarely seen in existing software tools. Example applications are provided.