Clock synchronization on the factory floor (FMS)

The coordination of flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) in an automated factory requires that synchronization amongst the manufacturing processes be based on a common clock. The synchronization requirements on the factory floor are described, and several clock synchronization algorithms, their theoretical bounds, and the results of the authors' work are discussed. Measurement results based on the implementation of such synchronization algorithms on local area networks (LAN) are presented. For hierarchical LANs, an algorithm is developed and its behavior simulated.< >