Petri net-based decision nets

This paper proposes the use of an extension of Timed, Colored Petri Nets (TCPN) in conjunction to fuzzy evaluation criteria for decision making. The ideas where applied to production planning and scheduling in a ore port. The TCPN is responsible the ordering of the decision processs (i.e. which decision to make first) and for keeping the state information regarding to resource usage/availability during the decision process. Therefore the decision process itself is described by a TCPN. Each decision is taken by applying a set of specific heuristics, appropriated to the situation. The fuzzy theory is used to grasp uncertainty and operator's preference. Decisions are then weighted, in an attempt to accomplish to the multiple objectives of the decision process. Copyright (C) 1998 IFAC.