Simultaneous scheduling of machines and automated guided vehicles in flexible manufacturing systems using genetic algorithms

The problem of simultaneous scheduling of machines and vehicles in flexible manufacturing system (FMS) was addressed.A spreadsheet based genetic algorithm (GA) approach was presented to solve the problem.A domain independent general purpose GA was used,which was an add-in to the spreadsheet software.An adaptation of the propritary GA software was demonstrated to the problem of minimizing the total completion time or makespan for simultaneous scheduling of machines and vehicles in flexible manufacturing systems.Computational results are presented for a benchmark with 82 test problems,which have been constructed by other researchers.The achieved results are comparable to the previous approaches.The proposed approach can be also applied to other problems or objective functions without changing the GA routine or the spreadsheet model.

Component-based Control Software Design for Flexible Manufacturing System

A new method that designs and implements the component-based distributed & hierarchical flexible manufacturing control software is described with a component concept in this paper. The proposed method takes aim at improving the flexibility and reliability of the control system. On the basis of describing the concepts of component-based software and the distributed object technology, the architecture of the component-based software of the control system is suggested with the Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA). And then, we propose a design method for component-based distributed & hierarchical flexible manufacturing control system. Finally, to verify the software design method, a prototype flexible manufacturing control system software has been implemented in Orbix 2.3c, VC + + 6. 0 and has been tested in connection with the physical flexible manufacturing shop at the WuXi Professional Institute.

Deadlock prevention for flexible manufacturing system

Deadlock must be prevented via the shop controller during the flexible manufacturing system （FMS） performing. Various models have been tried for the analysis and design of shop controller. Petri net is suitable to describe the dynamic behavior of the discrete event system, such as concurrency, conflict and deadlock, however, the verification of the .system behavior needs structure analysis with complex theoretical proof method. Temporal logic model checking has important advantages over traditional theorem prover. It is flatly automatic and can produce possible counter-example which is particularly important in finding subtle error in complex transition systems. In this paper, a new method for the deadlock prevention based on Petri net and Temporal Logic model checking is presented. The specification in the Temporal Logic is expressed according to some result of structure analysis of the Petri net. The model checking is employed to execute the formal verification, which will conduct an exhaustive exploration of all possible behaviors. Finally, an example is presented to demonstrate how the method works.

Manufacturing Communication: DCOM-MMS-based Approach for Flexible Manufacturing System

A design approach of manufacturing communication is presented for flexible manufacturing system in this paper. The primary objective aims at making the flexible manufacturing control system provided with interoperability and reconfigurability. Based on describing manufacturing message specification (MMS) and distributed component object model (DCOM), a client/server manufacturing communication model is built with MMS standard and DCOM middleware, and the communication interfaces between MMS client and MMS server are designed with Microsoft interface definition language (MIDL) and abstract syntax notation one (ASN.1) of MMS services. As a result, DCOM and MMS integration leads to such client/ server communication capabilities independent of different operating systems and manufacturing devices in flexible manufacturing automation environment. Finally, to verify the new design approach, a prototype system of robot control system has been implemented in MS 2000 Server/Professional Operating System and VC++ 6.0 Developer Environments.

Design and Implementation of Distributed Numerical Control in Flexible Manufacturing System

To monitor, control and manage the work process of computer numerical control machine tools in a flexible manufacturing system (FMS) effectively, the distributed numerical coutrol (distributed-NC) software should be innovated with the characteristics of modularization and reconfiguration. In this paper, firstly, distributed-NC functions in the FMS environment are described. Then, we present a design and development method of the real time distributed-NC that is on the basis of the re-coufigurable software and hardware platform and with an object-oriented model concept. Finally, to verify the proposed method, the distributed-NC software has been implemented in VC++ 6.0 and has been tested in connection with the different physical flexible manufacturing shops.

Research on Flexible Manufacturing System in Mechatronics Professional Comprehensive Training

According to the characteristics of flexible manufacturing systems, the article describes the equipment components and hardware architecture of flexible manufacturing systems in school. Taking welding assemble process as an example to elaborate production process automation, the paper put forward a flexible manufacaxring system combined with laboratory equipment and various grades, professional knowledge and teaching characteristics and differentiated teaching programs, the creation of the laboratory project was planned and implemented to specific engineering training programs, so that students has been expanded in the depth of expertise and breadth, experimental skills and innovation capacity has been improved, the teaching effect has also been significantly improved..

Intelligent Examination Monitoring and Maintenance for the Safety of Operation of Flexible Manufacturing Systems

Based on the system of electric power supply for flexible manufacturing systems (FMS), a study has been carried out on the intelligent safety examination, monitoring and maintenance of its running environment. On the basis of the specific feature of the power supply network of an FMS, real time monitoring system of the power supply network and the fault diagnostic expert system for the power equipment have been designed. This system can diagnose not only definite fault phenomena, but also fuzzy, uncertain fault phenomena as well. Fault diagnostic knowledge base for the power equipment has been founded hierarchy architecture model and the method of fault tree analysis. Feasibility of this system has been proved by computer simulation.

Autonomy-subnet based structural synthesis and liveness guarantying policy of Petri net model of flexible manufacturing system

In this paper, an autonomous subnet based structural methodology forbottom-up synthesis of Petri Nets for Flexible Manufacturing Systems is proposed.Furthermore, the theoretical analysis of the model constructed by the method is carried byintensively using model's structural information, such as invariants, siphons, etc.. As aresult, the analysis leads us to draw the general conclusion that the model obtained isconservativeness and thus bound, and characterize its liveness in terms of zero-markingminimal siphons. It is based on model's structural information that distinguishes ourmethod from others. in line of this thought, a liveness guarantying policy for the obtainedmodel is proposed. Some control subnets are merged into the original model according tothe proposed synthesis rules in this paper to ensure that no minimal siphons are emptiedin any state, therefore the liveness is guaranteed. As a result, a live, conservative andrevertible Petri Nets is obtained. A practical example is also presented to demonstrate theeffectiveness of this method.

Study on Robot Sequencing Model in Flexible Manufacturing System Using Timed Petri Net

In a flexible manufacturing system, both the productivity and the flexibility of the manufacturing processes are highly influenced by robot sequencing. In this paper a petri net based approach for sequencing of industrial robot in a flexible manufacturing cell is presented and a decision structure for robot sequencing based on different criteria is described.

Study of Object Oriented Petri Net and Its Application in Flexible Manufacturing Cells

This paper presents an object oriented Petri net (OOPN) schema to model the dynamic behaviors of a flexible manufacturing cells (FMCs). The OOPN paradigm incorporates the characteristics of a Petri net and OOP. It increases the maintainability and reusability of objects in Petri net modeling, thus it has more powerful modeling and analysis abilities.

Petri net based modeling and analysis for weldingflexible manufacturing cell

Due to the development of advanced manufacturing technology and the introduction of Smart Manufacturing notion in the field of modern industrial production, welding flexible manufacturing using robot technology has become the inevitable developing direction on welding automation. Based on a new intelligent arc welding flexible manufacturing cell (WFMC), its system structure and control policies are studied in this paper. Aiming at the different information flows among every subsystem and central monitoring computer in this WFMC, Petri net theory is introduced into the process of welding manufacturing. A discrete control model of WFMC has been constructed, in which the system's status is regarded as place and the control process is regarded as transition. Moreover, grounded on automation Petri net principle, the judging and utilizing of information obtained from welding sensors are imported into Petri net structure, which extends the traditional Petri net concepts. The control model and policies researched in this paper have established foundation for further intelligent real time control on welding flexible manufacturing cell and system.

Resarch on Welding Robotic System with Petri Net

Petri net (PN) theory model was adopted for complexity in welding flexible manufacturing system (WFMS). A scheduling arithmetic was devised to optimize the process of controlling system. With this scheduling way, model simulation experiment was designed to validate the model. And a sort of controlling software was designed on local net. Besides, a special welding experiment had been designed to check the controlling way. Results show the controlling process rightly and feasibly.

A Control System of Material Handlingin FMS

The design of a control system for the material transport as used in gear-box flexible manufacturing system is presented in this paper. The scope of investigation covers material transport control, automatic vehicle, material exchange station, multi-storeyed warehouse system, NC and CNC machines and host computer etc. The paper describes the transport control system and its design, and briefly describes the communication among devices and warehouse access principles.

A Study on the Monitoring System for the FMS

Introduces a new monitoring method in FMS explicated in some detail by means of the MSF(Monitoring System of FMS)under development by the au- thors.In order to push FMS technology forword,enhance machining flexibility and the flexibility of human operaters and equipment in a FMS,the authors have made some breakthroughs in traditional ways of single item,unit monitoring and self-han- dling,and suggested the idea of integrated inspection and put the MSF into more practicability.The working status of FMS can be monitored on the CRT of a micro- computer of the MSF,system troubles will be shown with icons,by the flash of the system characteristic symbol or by alarming,and so on.This explores a new way for FMS inspection in a wholly integrated manner.

Recent advances of flexible perovskite solar cells

In few years only, the efficiency record of perovskite solar cells（PSCs） has raised quickly from 3.8% to over 22%. This emerging photovoltaic technology has primarily shown its great potential of industrialization. Flexible PSCs are thought to be one of the most priority options for mass production, related to the intrinsic advantage of perovskite thin films which could be deposited by facile solution processes at low temperature. Flexible PSCs have at least four advantages in comparison to the rigid counterpart：（1） it can generate higher power output at lighter weight,（2） it is easily portable,（3） it can be easily attached to architectures or textiles with diverse shapes, and（4） it is compatible with roll-to-roll fabrication in a large scale. In this review, we have summarized recent development of the key materials and technologies applied in flexible PSCs. The key materials including flexible substrates, transparent and conductive electrodes, and interfacial materials; some key technologies about roll-to-roll manufacture, encapsulation technology have been overviewed. Finally, a prospect on possible application directions of flexible PSCs has been discussed.

Investment decision optimization for delayed product differentiation based on queuing theory

To balance inventory cost with diverse demand,an optimal investment decision on necessary process improvement for delayed product differentiation is studied. A two-stage flexible manufacturing system is modeled as a continuous time Markov chain. The first production stage manufactures semifinished products based on a make-to-stock policy. The second production stage customizes semi-finished products from the first production stage on a make-to-order policy. Various performance measures for this flexible manufacturing system are evaluated by using matrix geometric methods. An optimization model to determine the level of investment on process improvement that minimizes the manufacturer ’s total cost is established. The results show that,a higher investment level can reduce both the expected customer order fulfillment delay and the expected semi-finished products inventory. When the initial order penetration point is 0. 4,the manufacturer ’s total cost is reduced by 15. 89% through process investment. In addition, the optimal investment level increases with the increase in the unit time cost of customer order fulfillment delay,and decreases with the increase in the product value and the initial order penetration point.

Knowledge Discovery in Maintenance Record of FMS Equipment for Diagnosing

To discover the knowledge of fault diagnosis in maintenance record of flexible manufacture system(FMS) equipment. An algorithm (process) was presented, which consists of ① preparatory phase in which some items in maintenance record are selected and decomposed into associated concepts and attributes, and ② discovering and establishing process, in which some possible relationships between the concepts and attributes can be established and knowledge is formulated. The rich diagnosis knowledge in maintenance record was captured through applying the method. An application of the method to the diagnosis system for FMS equipment showed that the approach is correct and effective.

Application of modified banker’s algorithm in FMS deadlock problem

Presents a method for deadlock avoidance algorithm used in Flexible Manufacturing System(FMS). This method is an improvement of the Banker algorithm. The Banker algorithm is commonly used in the Operating System (OS), but some improvements will have to be made on the algorithm if this algorithm is used in FMS. The difference between the process in operating system and the job in the FMS is fully discussed. Based on this difference, the improvement is made. In order to improve the algorithm, formal methods are adopted to the manufacturing systems. The simulation model is translated into a format suitable for model checking. That is, the model is written into PROMELA, the input language of the popular model checker SPIN. After that, SPIN is used to verify that the model does not have deadlock. This algorithm proves to be highly effective in practice.

MODELING OF FMS BASED ON UML AND OPNS

As the main component of computer integrated manufacturing system (CIMS), flexible manufacturing system (FMS) should be an open system with reusability and extenchaility. Moreover, as FMS is a complex asynchronous concurrent system, its model also should have the abilities to express the concurrency in the system and to analyze the behavior of the system. It is difficult to use any one method to model such a complex system as FMS. A modeling method using Object-oriented modeling language-unified modeling language (UML) and object-Oriented Petri nets (OPNs) is proposed. Class diagram in UML is used to represent the static relations among the objects in FMS. OPNs are used to model the dynamic behavior of the objects and conduct performance analysis. OPNs also can be used to identify the attributes and operations of the objects. The model can describe the system integrally and can be used to design FMS control software naturally.

Study on scheduling algorithm for multiple handling requests of single automated guided vehicles

To solve the problem of small amount of machining centers in small and medium flexible manufacture systems(FMS), a scheduling mode of single automated guided vehicle(AGV) is adopted to deal with multiple transport requests in this paper. Firstly, a workshop scheduling mechanism of AGV is analyzed and a mathematical model is established using Genetic Algorithm. According to several sets of transport priority of AGV, processes of FMS are encoded, and fitness function, selection, crossover, and variation methods are designed. The transport priority which has the least impact on scheduling results is determined based on the simulation analysis of Genetic Algorithm, and the makespan, the longest waiting time, and optimal route of the car are calculated. According to the actual processing situation of the workshop, feasibility of this method is verified successfully to provide an effective solution to the scheduling problem of single AGV.