Networked priced timed automata for energy-efficient factory automation

Energy efficiency and energy savings are urging and intensively discussed topics in the domain of industry automation because of environmental, social and legal reasons [5]. Factory automation can significantly contribute to energy efficiency in manufacturing. However, in order to take advantage of energy saving potentials, a specific energy system model is necessary. In this paper, we propose a formal energy system model based on timed automata with energy efficiency extensions (PTA), that incorporates operating and transitional modes annotated with timing and process-related constraints, input power and utility. We are interested in the verification and calculation of switching sequences satisfying domain specific requirements to handle and actively switch energy-enabled automation systems. Furthermore, the motivation is to synthesize energy-efficient switching schedules for automated manufacturing systems. In this context, a real-world factory automation use case illustrates and provides proof-of-concept for this approach.