Using CSTPNs to model traffic control CPS

Transportation cyber-physical system (T-CPS) is a spatiotemporal discrete-continuous hybrid system. However, the hybrid T-CPSs have some analysis and modelling problems, especially the problems related to the spatiotemporal characteristics. Existing coloured Petri net approaches of traffic control cannot effectively analyse dynamic changes of cyber systems and physical entities in space and time. Moreover, some problems, related to the state space explosion and the large complex T-CPSs, have not been well solved. This study develops the innovative methods for T-CPS design and modelling via the development and application of coloured spatiotemporal Petri nets (CSTPNs). The proposed research ideas involve the CSTPN theory creation, the development of traffic intersection coordination control system using CSTPNs, the traffic simulation analysis and the implementation of T-CPS-based CSTPNs. The experimental results show that the new spatiotemporal theories and approaches of the traffic coordination control based on CSTPNs have excellent potentials to address the issues related to the spatiotemporal discrete-continuous characteristics of T-CPS. Moreover, these innovative methods with a good validity can be easily applied into practise for the development of T-CPS.