Skip to main content
Log in

Matrix Controller Design and Deadlock Analysis of Automated Manufacturing Systems. Part 1. Designing the Matrix-Based Controller

  • Published:
The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

A system theory approach is used to design rule-based discrete-event controllers for the sequencing of jobs in manufacturing systems. The controller is described in terms of matrix equations that are easy to implement on a personal computer. Industrial engineering (IE) techniques and the concepts of Petri nets (PN) are included. A standard bill of materials (BOM) is used in the first design step to make a "task sequencing matrix". Then a resource requirement matrix is constructed to add non-shared resources and shared resources (e.g. pallets, transport robots, and material handling machines). Non-shared resources are controlled using inner decision loops. However, shared resources require outer decision loops for dispatching and routeing that resolve conflicts, taking into account the specified performance measures to be optimised (e.g. percentage of idle time, throughput, etc.). Failures are simply represented as disturbance inputs, allowing design for failure recovery. The rule-based controller design algorithm is a step-by-step procedure with repeatability and guaranteed conflict/deadlock resolution. It shows that the closed-loop system, once designed, is equivalent to a Petri net (PN); this gives, as a by-product, an algorithm for PN design. Furthermore, the matrix formulation allows a rigorous analysis of deadlocks in terms of circular wait and blocking, and the resources available.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Huang, HH. Matrix Controller Design and Deadlock Analysis of Automated Manufacturing Systems. Part 1. Designing the Matrix-Based Controller. Int J Adv Manuf 18, 434–447 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s001700170053

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s001700170053

Navigation