Safe operation of a modular production system via supervisor automata*

In this paper, the three units of a Modular Production System (MPS) benchmark with a parametric number of drilling tools are modelled using finite deterministic automata in the discrete event system framework. The desired behavior of the MPS benchmark process together with the desired sequence of manufacturing actions of the MPS are expressed in the form of specification rules. The rules have been expressed in the form of a set of regular languages. Each regular language has been realized by a supervisor automaton. Using these supervisors, a modular supervisory architecture has been proposed. The physical realizability and the nonblocking property of the controlled automaton have been proved.