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The generalization of Margolus’s block cellular automaton on a hexagonal grid is formulated. Statistical analysis of the results of probabilistic cellular automation for vast variety of this scheme solving the test task of diffusion is done. It is shown that the choice of the hexagon blocks is 25% more efficient than Y-blocks. It is shown that the algorithms have polynomial complexity, and the polynom degree lies within 0.6÷0.8 for parallel computer, and in the range 1.5÷1.7 for serial computer. The effects of embedded into automaton’s field defective cells on the rate of convergence are studied also.

The second part of paper is devoted to final study of three classic partial differential equations (Laplace, Diffusion and Wave) solution using simple numerical methods in terms of Cellular Automata. Specificity of this solution has been shown by different examples, which are related to the hexagonal grid. Also the next statements that are mentioned in the first part have been proved: the matter conservation law and the offensive effect of excessive hexagonal symmetry.

From the point of CA view diffusion equation is the most important. While solving of diffusion equation at the infinite time interval we can find solution of boundary value problem of Laplace equation and if we introduce vector-variable we will solve wave equation (at least, for scalar). The critical requirement for the sampling of the boundary conditions for CA-cells has been shown during the solving of problem of circular membrane vibrations with Neumann boundary conditions. CA-calculations using the simple scheme and Margolus rotary-block mechanism were compared for the quasione-dimensional problem “diffusion in the half-space”. During the solving of mixed task of circular membrane vibration with the fixed ends in a classical case it has been shown that the simultaneous application of the Crank–Nicholson method and taking into account of the second-order terms is allowed to avoid the effect of excessive hexagonal symmetry that was studied for a simple scheme.

By the example of the centrally symmetric Neumann problem a new method of spatial derivatives introducing into the postfix CA procedure, which is reflecting the time derivatives (on the base of the continuity equation) was demonstrated. The value of the constant that is related to these derivatives has been empirically found in the case of central symmetry. The low rate of convergence and accuracy that limited within the boundaries of the sample, in contrary to the formal precision of the method (4-th order), prevents the using of the CAmethods for such problems. We recommend using multigrid method. During the solving of the quasi-diffusion equations (two-dimensional CA) it was showing that the rotary-block mechanism of CA (Margolus mechanism) is more effective than simple CA.

The paper contains the analysis of the domestic publications issued in 2013–2017 years and devoted to cellular automata. The most of them concern on mathematical modeling. Scientometric schedules for 1990–2017 years have proved relevance of subject. The review allows to allocate the main personalities and the scientific directions/schools in modern Russian science, to reveal their originality or secondness in comparison with world science. Due to the authors choice of national publications basis instead of world, the paper claims the completeness and the fact is that about 200 items from the checked 526 references have an importance for science.

In the Annex to the review provides preliminary information about CA — the Game of Life, a theorem about gardens of Eden, elementary CAs (together with the diagram of de Brujin), block Margolus’s CAs, alternating CAs. Attention is paid to three important for modeling semantic traditions of von Neumann, Zuse and Zetlin, as well as to the relationship with the concepts of neural networks and Petri nets. It is allocated conditional 10 works, which should be familiar to any specialist in CA. Some important works of the 1990s and later are listed in the Introduction.

Then the crowd of publications is divided into categories: the modification of the CA and other network models (29 %), Mathematical properties of the CA and the connection with mathematics (5 %), Hardware implementation (3 %), Software implementation (5 %), Data Processing, recognition and Cryptography (8 %), Mechanics, physics and chemistry (20 %), Biology, ecology and medicine (15 %), Economics, urban studies and sociology (15 %). In parentheses the share of subjects in the array are indicated. There is an increase in publications on CA in the humanitarian sphere, as well as the emergence of hybrid approaches, leading away from the classic CA definition.

The paper describes a free software for research in the field of holomorphic dynamics based on the computational capabilities of the MATLAB environment. The software allows constructing not only single complex-valued mappings, but also their collectives as linearly connected, on a square or hexagonal lattice. In the first case, analogs of the Julia set (in the form of escaping points with color indication of the escape velocity), Fatou (with chaotic dynamics highlighting), and the Mandelbrot set generated by one of two free parameters are constructed. In the second case, only the dynamics of a cellular automaton with a complex-valued state of the cells and of all the coefficients in the local transition function is considered. The abstract nature of object-oriented programming makes it possible to combine both types of calculations within a single program that describes the iterated dynamics of one object.

The presented software provides a set of options for the field shape, initial conditions, neighborhood template, and boundary cells neighborhood features. The mapping display type can be specified by a regular expression for the MATLAB interpreter. This paper provides some UML diagrams, a short introduction to the user interface, and some examples.

The following cases are considered as example illustrations containing new scientific knowledge:

1) a linear fractional mapping in the form $Az^{n} +B/z^{n} $, for which the cases $n=2$, $4$, $n>1$, are known. In the portrait of the Fatou set, attention is drawn to the characteristic (for the classical quadratic mapping) figures of <>, showing short-period regimes, components of conventionally chaotic dynamics in the sea;

2) for the Mandelbrot set with a non-standard position of the parameter in the exponent $z(t+1)\Leftarrow z(t)^{\mu } $ sketch calculations reveal some jagged structures and point clouds resembling Cantor's dust, which are not Cantor's bouquets that are characteristic for exponential mapping. Further detailing of these objects with complex topology is required.

The paper has methodical character; it is devoted to three classic partial differential equations (Laplace, Diffusion and Wave) solution using simple numerical methods in terms of Cellular Automata. Special attention was payed to the matter conservation law and the offensive effect of excessive hexagonal symmetry.

It has been shown that in contrary to finite-difference approach, in spite of terminological equivalence of CA local transition function to the pattern of computing double layer explicit method, CA approach contains the replacement of matrix technique by iterative ones (for instance, sweep method for three diagonal matrixes). This suggests that discretization of boundary conditions for CA-cells needs more rigid conditions.

The correct local transition function (LTF) of the boundary cells, which is valid at least for the boundaries of the rectangular and circular shapes have been firstly proposed and empirically given for the hexagonal grid and the conservative boundary conditions. The idea of LTF separation into «internal», «boundary» and «postfix» have been proposed. By the example of this problem the value of the Courant-Levy constant was re-evaluated as the CA convergence speed ratio to the solution, which is given at a fixed time, and to the rate of the solution change over time.

An introduction to the models of cellular automata is given. The three automata described on the plane are: Viner-Rosenbluth cellular automata, the game of Life and Kohomoto-Oono automata for modelling «reaction-diffusion» systems. There is built the generalization of cellular automata of the game of Life to arbitrary dimension of space and the generalization of Kohomoto-Oono automata in 3D.

The gradual incorporation of automated vehicles into the global transport networks leads to the need to develop tools to assess the impact of this process on various aspects of traffic. This implies a more organized movement of automated vehicles which can form uniformly moving platoons. The influence of the formation and movement of these platoons on the dynamics of traffic flow is of great interest. The currently most developed traffic flow models are based on the cellular automaton approach. They are mainly developed in the direction of increasing accuracy. This inevitably leads to the complication of models, which in their modern form have significantly moved away from the original philosophy of cellular automata, which implies simplicity and schematicity of models at the level of evolution rules, leading, however, to a complex organized behavior of the system. In the present paper, a simulation model of connected automated vehicles platoon dynamics in a heterogeneous transport system is proposed, consisting of two types of agents (vehicles): human-driven and automated. The description of the temporal evolution of the system is based on modified rules 184 and 240 for elementary cellular automata. Human-driven vehicles move according to rule 184 with the addition of accidental braking, the probability of which depends on the distance to the vehicle in front. For automated vehicles, a combination of rules is used depending on the type of nearest neighbors, regardless of the distance to them, which brings non-local interaction to the model. At the same time, it is considered that a group of sequentially moving connected automated vehicles can form an organized platoon. The influence of the ratio of types of vehicles in the system on the characteristics of the traffic flow during free movement on a circular one-lane and two-lane roads, as well as in the presence of a traffic light, is studied. The simulation results show that the effect of platoon formation is significant for a freeway traffic flow; the presence of a traffic light reduces the positive effect by about half. The movement of platoons of connected automated vehicles on two-lane roads with the possibility of lane changing was also studied. It is shown that considering the types of neighboring vehicles (automated or human-driven) when changing lanes for automated vehicles has a positive effect on the characteristics of the traffic flow.

The general formalization of visualization models in cellular automata (CA) scope is presented, their classification is examined. It also describes possible approaches to the sound scales generation. We consider special cases of visualization manners for CA of various dimensions. By a simple 3D CA example the features of nanoscale systems imaging are indicated.

Results obtained during practical training session on MPI during high perfomance computing summer school MIPT-2010 are discussed. MPI technology were one of technologies proposed to participants for realization of project. 3D version of Conway’s Game of Life was proposed as a project. Algorithms used in the development, theoretical and practical assessment of their scalability is analyzed.

The possibilities of cellular automata simulation applied to herbs and dwarf shrubs are described. Basicprinciples of discrete description of the ontogenesis of plants on which the mathematical modeling based are presents. The review discusses the main research results obtained with the use of models that revealing the patterns of functioning of populations and communities. The CAMPUS model and the results of computer experiment to study the growth of two clones of lingonberry with different geometry of the shoots are described. The paper is dedicated to the works of the founder of the direction of prof. A. S. Komarov. A list of his major publications on this subject is given.