Algorithm for estimating confusion states of flexible manufacturing systems

As confusions have an impact on the multi-thread running and decision-making of flexible manufacturing systems (FMS), this paper aims to present a novel algorithm for finding all confusions of such an FMS, which can be considered as the foundation of further system modeling and control. An algebraic method is presented by analyzing the characters of confusion states, based on the available detection schemes of the subnet structure of Petri nets. The method implements state estimation of confusions by inputting a system static structure and an initial state instead of supervising system states. This result can be applied to conflict rationality analysis in the system modeling phase. Finally, an example of FMS is employed to simulate the proposed algorithm. The result shows that all confusion states of the target system can be estimated effectively by using the method.