Manufacturing system application of a knowledge based simulation

The flexibility in a modern manufacturing facility introduces complexity to the decision making. The requirement for a real time control mechanism results in a need for an on-line simulation system that can simulate the complicated scheduling, routing and similar decisions required by the system.

This paper describes a knowledge-based simulation and control system written in PROLOG. This system is composed of four parts: a static data base, a dynamic database, a modeling knowledge part, and a simulation driver. The simulator contains the actual control mechanism of the physical system and can be removed from the system in order to simulate it.

The manufacturing system under investigation is a combination of flexible manufacturing cells that feed an automated assembly station. The knowledge-based simulation helps to develp and understand control mechanisms for that system, which can later be implemented in the physical system as the controller.