From AMS design to realization: methods and tools

Presents a small survey of commonly used design methods applied to the field of automated manufacturing systems (AMS). Putting forward the lack of methods really suited to the field, the authors then introduce a new specific formalism. This formalism is based on results from artificial intelligence and cognitive psychology works on human problem solving strategies. It is described in a validation context. Some extensions to the formalism are then presented. These ones allow a more formal description of the AMS in order to ease the transition toward the realization of the system