Object oriented discrete event based simulation and control of complex 3D systems

The combination of discrete event systems with 3D simulation and control technology seems to be at the first glance a contradiction in terms because of mixing up two totally different application classes. But here, the newly developed state oriented modeling methodology comes into play providing a comprehensive and flexible object oriented framework for the development of complex discrete event systems. State oriented modeling establishes a link between these two worlds using object oriented Petri nets for the discrete part as well as application specific mappings between continuous and discrete state variables. Integrated in a versatile 3D simulation system, state oriented modeling enables the efficient realization of a large class of applications ranging from industrial automation through a variety of new virtual reality applications up to controller synthesis for multi robot manipulator workcells.