An Algebra of Hybrid Systems

Speaker: Peter Hoefner

When: 10:00, Friday 22nd August 2008

Venue: 78-420

Hybrid systems are heterogeneous systems characterised by the interaction of discrete and continuous dynamics. They have many applications, such as automated highway systems, air-traffic control, automotive controllers, robotics, chemical and biological processes. Hybrid automata are widely popular for designing and modelling hybrid systems. Nevertheless, they are quite unhandy in calculations concerning liveness and safety properties. The first part of the talk gives a short introduction to hybrid systems and hybrid automata. Based on that a trajectory-based algebraic model for describing hybrid systems is presented. It will be shown that hybrid automata can conveniently be embedded into the algebra. We will further show that the approach is strongly connected to work of Ian Hayes and Larissa Meinicke. Moreover some important advantages of the algebraic approach are discussed. The second part will give an overview about what we have done in the area of hybrid systems, what we do at the moment and what we are planning to do.

Bio: Peter Hoefner studied mathematics and informatics at the University of Augsburg (Germany). In 2003 he received his M.S. degree and started a doctorate at the same university. During the academic year 2006/07 he visited the University of Sheffield, UK. Recent research focusses on the application of algebraic structures in computing, in particular on formal methods for reactive and hybrid systems.

Hospitality: Graeme Smith

Contact: Robert Colvin (SSE seminar co-ordinator) (robert@itee.uq.edu.au)

SSE seminar web page: http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~sse/Seminars.html