A Simulation Tool for Evolvable Assembly System

Product innovation and worldwide market competition are pushing research to face with new production paradigms. One of the most interesting is the approach suggested by the evolvable system concept. This approach is focused on modularization, standardization, fast configuration and programming of the systems. An important distinction between past flexible system and evolvable system is in tailoring functionality and characteristics onto the exact product and process requirements, but to be considered evolvable such a system should be self-reacting and self-adapting to all significant changes. A very important role is played by the design and configuration tools that support development and definition of an evolvable system. To assess performances and correctness immediately after the design phase the simulation tools are a fundamental key to verify the respect and satisfaction of requirements. In this work we try to trace an overview of the simulation tool role and an example helps to present approach and potentiality.