Modeling and Simulation of Dynamic Topology Models: an Overview of Applications

Many systems undergo changes in their topology. The ability to mimic these changes into systems representations produces models that are easier to understand and to maintain when compared with the corresponding static topology models. The Heterogeneous Flow System Specification (HFSS) is a formalism able to represent hybrid systems with a dynamic topology. HFSS supports the representation of topologies that can reconfigure themselves with the addition/removal of components and their interconnections. In this paper we present several systems modeled with dynamic topologies. We consider the representation of switched systems, mobile components, and unbounded cellular automata. We also provide the HFSS representation of spatially moving entities, a particular class of models where dynamic topologies can provide an effective representation.