Synthesis of live models for a class of FMS

The synthesis of live models for flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs) is discussed. A class of FMSs composed by a set of sequential processes competing for a set of common resources is considered. For modeling and analysis purposes, a special class of Petri net is considered, i.e., the class of systems of simple sequential processes with resources, that has a practical interest in FMS environments. This class of models has a special property. If for a reachable marking there is a nonlive transition, then an empty siphon exists. This property is used in order to implement a control policy in the initial model assuring that the final model is live. One of the advantages of this control policy is that it can be implemented by means of the addition of new Petri net elements to the model