Petri Net-based control of the material handling flow path for automated guided vehicles

Abstract

Because of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) routing flexibility, they have been used in many manufacturing systems, especially those in which parts with diverse and complex processing routes are made. This paper introduces the design of an material handling flow path control system in a partitioned zone through the timed Petri Nets. The initial requirements of a system specified with sequence diagrams are translated into a single timed Petri net model representing the route behavior of the system. Refer to the specifically part scheduling route for processing, setup a extended material flow matrix, then establish the corresponding timed Petri Net graphs to control a vehicle guide path tracks and location of the pickup (P) and dropoff (D) stations. The flowchart of control system design has its general-purpose modes considering all kind of circular routes with the dwell places, allowing easy adaptations to features corresponding to specific applications is highly desirable.