Virtual prototyping of automated manufacturing systems with Geometry-driven Petri nets
Computer-Aided Design
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The development process of mechatronic control systems often relies on physical prototypes to test the interactions between the control software and mechanical components. However, the logistics of synchronizing a concurrent development process and the risks of integrating only partially completed sub-systems often limits effective prototyping. The consequent lack of feedback can lead to overly complex and unreliable systems which may have to undergo expensive re-designs.The interactions between mechanical systems and control software can also be recreated artificially by combining a hybrid modelling language with computer graphics technology. A dynamic 3D environment can generate sensor telemetry for input to a control system, which in turn alters the state of the environment through virtual actuators. This kind of simulation allows engineers to explore a larger design space early during the development process without committing significant resources to physical prototypes.This dissertation introduces a method for simulating mechatronic systems using Petri Nets and Scene Trees. The following chapters formally define the modelling language and illustrate the software architecture and user interface of a novel simulation development environment. The research is validated through qualitative reasoning and by demonstrating a simulation that detects design flaws in a mechatronic system which may have otherwise lead to expensive redesigns in the physical system.