Partial batch sizes - anylogic

Question

I'm trying to simulate pallet behavior by using batch and move to. This works fine except towards the end where the number of elements left is smaller than the batch size, and these never get picked up. Any way out of this situation?
Have tried messing with custom queues, pickup/dropoff pairs.
To elaborate, the batch object has a queue size of 15. However once the entire set has been processed a number of elements less than 15 remain which don't get picked up by the subsequent moveTo block. I need to send the agents to the subsequent block once the queue size falls below 15.

Answer 1

You can dynamically change the batch size of your Batch object towards "the end" (whatever you mean by that :-) ). You need to figure out when to change the batch size (as this depends on your model). But once it is time to adjust, you can call myBatchItem.set_batchSize(1) and it will now batch things together individually.
However, a better model design might be to have a cool-down period before the model end, i.e. stop taking model measurements before your batch objects run out of agents to batch.

Answer 2

You need to know what the last element is somehow for example using a boolean variable called isLast in your agent that is true for the last agent.
and in the batch you have to change the batch size programatically.. maybe like this in the on enter action of your batch:
if(agent.isLast)
self.set_batchSize(self.size());

Answer 3

To determine if the "end" or any lack of supply is reached, I suggest a timeout. I would save a timestamp in a variable lastBatchDate in the OnExit code of the batch block:
lastBatchDate = date();
A cyclically activated event checkForLeftovers will check every once in a while if there is objects waiting to be batched and the timeout (here: 10 minutes) is reached. In this case, the batch size will be reduced to exactly the number of waiting objects, in order for them to continue in a smaller batch:
if( lastBatchDate!=null //prevent a NullPointerError when date is not yet filled
&& ((date().getTime()-lastBatchDate.getTime())/1000)>600 //more than 600 seconds since last batch
&& batch.size()>0 //something is waiting
&& batch.size()<BATCH_SIZE //not more then a normal batch is waiting
){
batch.set_batchSize(batch.size()); // set the batch size to exactly the amount waiting
}
else{
batch.set_batchSize(BATCH_SIZE); // reset the batch size to the default value BATCH_SIZE
}
The model will look something like this:
However, as Benjamin already noted, you should be careful if this is what you really need to model. Take care for example on these aspects:
Is the timeout long enough to not accidentally push smaller batches during normal operations?
Is the timeout short enough to have any effect?
Is it ok to have a batch of a smaller size downstream in your process?
etc.
You might just want to make sure upstream that the number of objects reaches the batching station are always filling full batches, or you might to just stop your simulation before the line "runs dry".
You can see the model and download the source code here.