Process for developing and implementing a model for the formal description of a collaborative system comprised of multiple distributed components, especially an intelligent, flexible production and/or process automation system

• US 20060015315A1
• Filed: 11/19/2004
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric GmbH (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Schneider Electric GmbH (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Schoop, Ronald, Walter Colombo, Armando
• Granted Patent: US 8,010,333 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/22
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41845 characterised by system universality, reconfigurability, modularity
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41885 characterised by modeling, simulation of the manufacturing system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31338 Design, flexible manufacturing cell design
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32166 Convert petrinet to sequence program for cell and to control program for machine
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32171 Transform, convert operator goals and information into petri nets
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32259 Flexibility, polyvalent machine, large buffers, permutation operations, alternative
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32328 Dynamic scheduling, resource allocation, multi agent negotiation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32372 Petrinet, coloured, inhibitor arc, timed, object token Petrinet
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 Management or planning

Abstract

Process for developing and implementing a model (ASM) for the formal description of a collaborative system including multiple, distributed components, wherein analyzable models of the components are generated via simulation processes. The invention includes the steps of generation of models of collaborative units, preparation of a catalog of models of the collaborative units, assignment of a set of rules to the catalog for the specification of interactions among the autonomous models of the collaborative units and for the development of the model of the complex collaborative system, generation of the desired model using selected models of the collaborative units as the basic module from the catalog, and taking selected rules into account, and automatic adaptation of the model by deriving new rules, taking into account evaluation parameters for each application in one process operation.

Claims

1. Process for developing and implementing a model (ASM) for the formal description of a collaborative system (AS) comprised of multiple, distributed components (HW1-HWN), wherein analyzable models of the components (HW1-HWN) are generated via simulation processes, characterized in that the process comprises the subsequent process steps:

Generation of models (M1-MN) of collaborative units (CAU1-CAUN), which can be analyzed via simulation processes, as autonomous basic modules based upon the models of the components, wherein a model (M1-MN) of a collaborative unit (CAU1-CAUN) contains, in addition to the unit'"'"'s hardware components (HW1-HWN), also its software components (ASE1-ASEN) and its intelligence (I1-IN) in the form of information on its autonomous behavior with respect to cooperation with other models (M1-MN) of collaborative units (CAU1-CAUN),

Preparation of a catalog (K) of models (M1-MN) of the collaborative units (CAU1-CAUN), wherein the catalog (K) of the models (M1-MNN) contains the results of a formal validation of the structural and/or behavioral specifications of the collaborative units (CAU1-CAUN),

Assignment of a set of rules (R) to the catalog (K) for the specification of interactions among the autonomous models (M1-MN) of the collaborative units (CAU1-CAUN) and for the development of the model (ASM) of the complex collaborative system (AS),

Generation of the desired model (ASM) using selected models (M1-MN) of the collaborative units as the basic module from the catalog (K), and taking selected rules (R) into account,

Automatic adaptation of the model (ASM) by deriving new rules (R), taking into account evaluation parameters for each application in one process operation.

2. Process pursuant to claim 1, characterized in that the models of the collaborative units (CAU1-CAUN) are generated on the basis of high-level petri nets (HLPN) or expanded colored petri nets (KOPLN).

3. Process pursuant to claim 1, characterized in that models (M1-MN) of collaborative units (CAU1-CAUN) are generated on the basis of components (HW1-HWN) having varying levels of precision, for example a module of a machine, a machine component, a sensor, an actuator, or a peripheral system.

4. Process pursuant to claim 1, characterized in that models (M1-MN) of collaborative units (CAU1-CAUN) are generated on the basis of reusable components (HW1-HWN).

5. Process pursuant to claim 1, characterized in that a discrete, event-oriented simulation process and/or a validation and/or analytical process based upon functional analysis are used as the simulation process.

6. Process pursuant to claim 1, characterized in that the catalog (K) contains standardized models (M1-MN) of a collaborative units (CAU1-CAUN).

7. Process pursuant to claim 1, characterized in that the catalog (K) contains models (M1-MN) of collaborative units (CAU1-CAUN) for different product scenarios.

8. Process pursuant to claim 1, characterized in that in the agent-based software unit (ASE1-ASEN) derived from the models (M1-MN) of the collaborative units (CAU1-CAUN), primary functions such as control, monitoring, diagnostics, decision-making processes, preventive and corrective maintenance are implemented.