Systematic Approaches to Petri Net-based PLC Code Generation for Industrial Automation

This review examines the significant advancements in translating Petri nets into Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) code for industrial automation applications. Petri nets provide a powerful formal method for modeling complex concurrent systems, while PLCs remain the cornerstone of industrial control. This article analyzes the challenges and solutions in bridging these domains, with particular focus on recent methodologies including direct conversion approaches, signal interpreted Petri nets, and state diagram intermediaries. We examine multi-vendor support capabilities, verification techniques, and safety integration features across different implementation approaches. The review highlights the substantial benefits of automated conversion, including reduced development time, lower error rates, and improved system reliability, supported by case studies across manufacturing, process control, and material handling domains. Finally, we identify research gaps and future directions including hybrid system modeling, distributed control architectures, and integration with Industry 4.0 technologies, providing a comprehensive roadmap for researchers and practitioners in industrial automation.