The development process of mechatronic control systems often relies on physical prototypes to test the interactions between the control software and mechanical components. However, the logistics of synchronizing a concurrent development process and the risks of integrating only partially completed sub-systems often limits effective prototyping. The consequent lack of feedback can lead to overly complex and unreliable systems which may have to undergo expensive re-designs.
The interactions between mechanical systems and control software can also be recreated artificially by combining a hybrid modelling language with computer graphics technology. A dynamic 3D environment can generate sensor telemetry for input to a control system, which in turn alters the state of the environment through virtual actuators. This kind of simulation allows engineers to explore a larger design space early during the development process without committing significant resources to physical prototypes.
This dissertation introduces a method for simulating mechatronic systems using Petri Nets and Scene Trees. The following chapters formally define the modelling language and illustrate the software architecture and user interface of a novel simulation development environment. The research is validated through qualitative reasoning and by demonstrating a simulation that detects design flaws in a mechatronic system which may have otherwise lead to expensive redesigns in the physical system.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:uvic.ca/oai:dspace.library.uvic.ca:1828/2116 |
| Date | 26 January 2010 |
| Creators | Stier, Jochen |
| Contributors | Jahnke, Jens H., Mùˆller, Hausi A. |
| Source Sets | University of Victoria |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | Available to the World Wide Web |
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