MODELING OF COMPLEX AUTOMATION SYSTEMS
USING COLORED STATE CHARTS

Olga Fengler, Wolfgang Fengler, Vesselka Duridanova
Ilmenau Technical University
Department of Computer Architectures
P.O. Box 100565, 98684 Ilmenau, Germany
Email: olga,vesselka,wfengler@theoinf.tu-ilmenau.de

 
Abstract:  The design of complex distributed automation systems often presents great challenges due to 
the size and number of components which have to work in parallel to one another in real time.  This re-
search paper discusses some of the problems of designing such systems. The use of Colored Dynamic State 
Diagrams for the modeling of complex real-time systems is suggested as a possible solution. This type 
of diagram is based on State Charts, the well-known and generally applied description technique includ-
ed as one variation in Unified Modeling Language. Colored State Charts harness two techniques, the model-
ling technique well accepted by engineers, and High Level Petrinets, with their outstanding powers of 
description.  By coloring State Charts, the behaviour of several objects or processes can be modelled 
simultaneously in a single figure. The Colored State Diagrams contain a variety of resources to facili-
tate clear and unequivocal representation of the composition of a number of simple State Diagrams. They 
also have additional mechanisms for mapping the dependencies and relationships between individual objects. 
Via transformation into colored Petri nets, they make  formal verification possible. Their usability is 
shown in a modelled reference example.


in: ICRA 2002: Proceedings of the 
2002 IEEE International Conference 
on Robotics and Automation.
May 11-15, 2002, Washington D.C.
ISBN: 0-7803-7273-5
IEEE (c) 2002 #02CH37292C

vol. 2, pp. 1901-1906