Matlab Tools for Petri-net-based Approaches to Flexible Manufacturing Systems

The skeleton and the functionality of a Petri Net Toolbox, embedded in the MATLAB environment, are briefly presented, as offering a collection of instruments devoted to simulation, analysis and synthesis of discrete-event systems. The integration with the MATLAB philosophy responds to the general interest manifested by educators for enlarging the compatibility between the traditional background of Control Engineering students and the novelty of Discrete-Event-Systems scenarios. Two amply commented case studies illustrate the usage of some facilities available in this new toolbox and prove its capability to cover a wide range of teaching goals for the Petrinet-based approaches to Flexible Manufacturing Systems. Copyright © IFAC 2001