The use of SHIFT in system design

SHIFT is a programming language for describing dynamic networks of hybrid automata. Such systems consist of components which can be created, interconnected and destroyed and the system evolves. Components exhibit hybrid behavior, consisting of continuous-time phases separated by discrete-event transitions. Components may evolve independently, or they may interact through their inputs, outputs and exported events. The interaction network itself may evolve. This paper illustrates how SHIFT was used to analyze multiple merge junction automated highways for safety and efficiency by several design teams comprising graduate students, research engineers and faculty.