An object-oriented frame-based prototyping approach for the development of automated manufacturing systems

Abstract

Prototyping assumes a predominant role in the development of automated manufacturing systems (AMSs) and, in particular, in the verification of system specifications prior to their subsequent realization. In recent years, object-oriented methods have been applied increasingly in the prototyping of AMSs to shorten the development cycle. This paper proposes an object-oriented frame-based approach to the rapid prototyping of AMSs. The proposed approach is characterized by the extended use of the frame-based representation method in the modelling of object behaviour. This approach also draws reference from an object-oriented conceptual model of manufacturing systems and a semantic model of object behaviour. These two models and an object-oriented frame-based prototyping tool are developed to support the approach. When compared with the conventional object-oriented methods, the proposed approach can reduce the semantic gap in system modelling and therefore lead to a better integration of the specification and prototyping of AMSs. The application of the proposed approach is illustrated by the prototyping of a flexible manufacturing system. © IMechE 1999.