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Survey of discrete simulation languages for modelling flexible manufacturing systems
Journal of Manujacturing Systems Volume 6 / N o . 1
book review
are selected based on this classification and other criteria. Selected languages are discussed and, in some cases, partially tested for a final recommendation.
and a 360 degrees rotating device for the antenna. Electrostatic painting gun with nozzles that flip 90 degrees permits reaching all the "nooks" and "crannies" of the complicated structure being painted. The primer coat requires 30 minutes, the finish 40 to 60. Manual painting needed two to three hours. The benefits of the robotic system are more consistent painting, and time and labor saving.
Some fundamental concepts of simulation are considered in Chapter 2 and again in Chapter 5. A general discussion of statistical aspects of simulation is given in Chapter 3. The application of simulation to FMS is considered in Chapter 4 and includes an example developed in GPSS language.
Although robotic welding and painting are already well advanced, additional developments are foreseen. These include more off-line robots motion programming, more sensors for on-line control, more software systems, and extensive program editing capabilities.
Chapter 6 contains the substantial portion of the language comparisons. Twenty-eight languages are identified as being suitable for use, and information was collected on half of those. Using seven major categories of criteria, the final list of recommended languages was reduced to five. Appendices provide a brief summary of all 28 languages.
As has become customary for this series of SME videotapes, the Robotic Welding and Robotic Painting tape is highly informative and convincing about the merits of the technology described.
The report is certainly not long-winded, and in fact, Chapters 2 and 3 are very sketchy. The evaluations in Chapter 6 must be taken with a grain of salt. As the author states, "(these) comparison(s) (are) mostly subjective and, hence, may reflect the biases of the author". The evaluations also seem to have been limited by the unavailability of most of the packages to the author (at least, the author states that "the (presumably final five) languages are not available locally)". Perhaps for that reason, microcomputer simulation languages, with their excellent interactive development and run environments, are dismissed forthwith.
Professor Moshe M. Barash, Associate Editor
Survey of Discrete Simulation Languages for Modelling Flexible Manufacturing Systems A. Tharumarajah Victoria CAD/CAM Centre Ltd., © 1985 152 pp. $15.00 (approximately)
In summary, this report may be useful as an introduction to the use of simulation for modelling FMSs. Insofar as selection of a language is concerned, the most useful aspect of the report is the listing and brief discussion of the major criteria for making such a selection.
The main purpose of the reviewed report is to carry out a survey of simulation languages in order to select those suitable for modelling FMSs. Only discrete-event approaches to simulation are considered. Comparison is made among general purpose languages, and among those which have been developed specifically for manufacturing systems. The languages are classified based on ease of modelling and flexibility. A subset of languages
--Professor Joseph J. Talavage Editorial Board Member
66
book review
are selected based on this classification and other criteria. Selected languages are discussed and, in some cases, partially tested for a final recommendation.
and a 360 degrees rotating device for the antenna. Electrostatic painting gun with nozzles that flip 90 degrees permits reaching all the "nooks" and "crannies" of the complicated structure being painted. The primer coat requires 30 minutes, the finish 40 to 60. Manual painting needed two to three hours. The benefits of the robotic system are more consistent painting, and time and labor saving.
Some fundamental concepts of simulation are considered in Chapter 2 and again in Chapter 5. A general discussion of statistical aspects of simulation is given in Chapter 3. The application of simulation to FMS is considered in Chapter 4 and includes an example developed in GPSS language.
Although robotic welding and painting are already well advanced, additional developments are foreseen. These include more off-line robots motion programming, more sensors for on-line control, more software systems, and extensive program editing capabilities.
Chapter 6 contains the substantial portion of the language comparisons. Twenty-eight languages are identified as being suitable for use, and information was collected on half of those. Using seven major categories of criteria, the final list of recommended languages was reduced to five. Appendices provide a brief summary of all 28 languages.
As has become customary for this series of SME videotapes, the Robotic Welding and Robotic Painting tape is highly informative and convincing about the merits of the technology described.
The report is certainly not long-winded, and in fact, Chapters 2 and 3 are very sketchy. The evaluations in Chapter 6 must be taken with a grain of salt. As the author states, "(these) comparison(s) (are) mostly subjective and, hence, may reflect the biases of the author". The evaluations also seem to have been limited by the unavailability of most of the packages to the author (at least, the author states that "the (presumably final five) languages are not available locally)". Perhaps for that reason, microcomputer simulation languages, with their excellent interactive development and run environments, are dismissed forthwith.
Professor Moshe M. Barash, Associate Editor
Survey of Discrete Simulation Languages for Modelling Flexible Manufacturing Systems A. Tharumarajah Victoria CAD/CAM Centre Ltd., © 1985 152 pp. $15.00 (approximately)
In summary, this report may be useful as an introduction to the use of simulation for modelling FMSs. Insofar as selection of a language is concerned, the most useful aspect of the report is the listing and brief discussion of the major criteria for making such a selection.
The main purpose of the reviewed report is to carry out a survey of simulation languages in order to select those suitable for modelling FMSs. Only discrete-event approaches to simulation are considered. Comparison is made among general purpose languages, and among those which have been developed specifically for manufacturing systems. The languages are classified based on ease of modelling and flexibility. A subset of languages
--Professor Joseph J. Talavage Editorial Board Member
66