Modelling of single-path batch production lines by FSMs

This paper provides a novel approach to modelling of single-path single-product batch production lines (BPL) based on finite-state machines (FSM) in the framework of supervisory control theory for discrete-event systems (DES). The paper demonstrates two modelling techniques. The first one, referred to as the plant+spec approach, is advocated by Ramadge-Wonham (RW). The second technique has, been developed by the author. It consists of modelling the constraints of a system directly in the model of the plant. A controller for the plant is generated in "one shot" by taking the n-way synchronous product of the component automata. This approach allows us to solve significantly larger problems. A framework for this modelling was presented in [1]. However, in [1] the presentation of single-path single-product BPLs was limited to a two-stage BPL only. This paper generalizes the results to any number of stages.