This release is another huge step forward for FlexSim’s AGV module, both in its improvements to model more warehousing situations and in its new ability to model train and rail systems. FlexSim 2020 Update 1 also streamlines libraries with new pop-out menus, introduces a simpler and more friendly Statistics Collector, and much more.

AGV Module

Train Simulation

We’ve done many successful rail simulation projects in the past two decades, even creating a (now deprecated) rail library in the late-2000s. Our latest feature in FlexSim 2020 Update 1 continues this legacy.

FlexSim now has expanded capabilities to model train yards, train travel networks, and other rail systems. The AGV module allows you to attach trailers that travel behind or in front of vehicles. The motion of these trailers is articulated on the travel path and combines with our powerful AGV system to build sophisticated train simulation models.

AGV Offset Travel

In warehousing situation, AGVs can pick and place products at many different points along a rack. When you model these situations, it can be tedious to place control points at every possible pick/place location along the rack.

Enter our offset travel enhancement to the AGV module. You can now dynamically determine offset destinations, which allows you to send the AGV to any point on the AGV path system (and not only to control points).

Other AGV Improvements

• Trailing Time, which gives you the option of time-based proximity detection for AGVs. Put simply, use this if you want AGVs to follow a certain number of seconds behind each other.
• Show Routing Accessibility, a new option available when you right-click on a control point. This shows all the points in a network that can reach a specific control point.
• An AGV Travel activity in Process Flow.

Visual + Other

Pop-Out Menus

These small menus show additional options for certain library items. They exist in a few places already, mostly within the healthcare/people modeling objects, but they have special focus in FlexSim 2018 Update 1. Now whenever you see this icon in a FlexSim library, it means you can left-click to show the pop-out menu.

You’ll find these menus in the Dashboard library, where we’ve cleaned up and organized things a bit. If a single chart has multiple visualization options, those options are selected from the pop-out menu. We’ve even added them to the Process Flow library, where container object shapes and travel activity types have been consolidated. Hurray, organization!

Healthcare Modeling Improvements

• Added a Max Speed property to Equipment objects like crash carts and portable EKGs.
• Added new flow item shapes, including a clipboard, test tube, and pill bottle.

Data + Debugging

Simpler Statistics Collector

If you haven’t had a chance to dig into the powerful Statistics Collector tool yet, now is the best time to start. It’s been updated to be simpler and more user friendly, with an all-new collection of tutorials to teach you how to collect the exact data you need. (Check out the tutorials here.)

Performance/Memory Profilers

FlexSim has had the old FlexScript Code Profile, but the Performance Profiler is a massive improvement on this tool. Simply record FlexSim’s activity and use the new visualization to easily see where FlexSim is spending the most CPU time. The Memory Profiler is new and works similarly to the Performance Profiler, but for physical memory usage.