Virtual Reality-Based Holonic Manufacturing System Requirements Analysis

This paper presents a methodology for analyzing requirements for the Holonic Manufacturing Systems (HMS) in a Virtual Reality (VR) environment in order to assist the system designer at each stage of development. This methodology aims to provide the high-level control HMS specifications from the problem requirements, specified by Client/User and provide clear and unambiguous analysis and design guidelines. Exploiting VR helps users to collect valid information quickly and in a correct form by putting the user and the information support elements in direct relation with the operation of the system in a more realistic environment. A VR-HMS-RA prototype tool is designed as a software system to realize the features outlined in each phase of the methodology.