Abstract: This paper addresses the carrier collaboration transportation with limited sharing of carrier’s request information. From the perspective of control structure, a holon-based multi-level control structure framework is proposed for exchanging tasks between carriers. From the perspective of modeling, the system model based on this control structure is described by using unified modeling language (UML) and discrete event system specification (DEVS). DEVS analysis shows that the system model is the coupling closure, which can convert a multi-level complex carrier collaboration relationship into a local carrier relationship in an alliance. This can simplify the carrier collaboration research. Finally, a simulation platform for carrier collaboration transportation based on holon is designed and developed. A simulation example shows the validity of the collaboration.

Key words: holon, control structure, information sharing, collaborative transport, simulation system