Animation of Stroboscope Models
Stroboscope Output
Stroboscope is a general-purpose simulation programming language and system that can model a wide range of complex processes, such as those in construction, transportation, manufacturing, the health services, etc. Its primary output consists of detailed and customizable statistics about any characteristic of the simulated model that may be of interest, such as production rates, unit costs, resource utilization rates, queue waiting times, queue contents, activity performance measures, etc.
Animation of Stroboscope Models
In addition to detailed statistics, Stroboscope can also produce custom output in the necessary format or language to visualize the model (as simulated by Stroboscope) in another system that plays back the simulation in the form of an animation. An excellent example of a commercial animation system that can be driven by a Stroboscope simulation is Proof-Animation (both the 2D and 3D versions).
Shown below are two examples of a Stroboscope model driving Proof-Animation.
Stroboscope Simulation of Earthmoving Operations
Deterministic estimates often overestimate production and underestimate costs.
The stochastic variability of real-world operations can decrease production and increase costs significantly.
The importance of a probabilistic analysis is illustrated clearly by these two Stroboscope simulation models:
Ideal: Coeff. of Variation = 0%, leads to: Production = 728 m3/hr
Real: Coeff. of Variation = 30%, leads to: Production = 615 m3/hr
3D Virtual Reality — Vitascope++
Stroboscope can also drive 3D virtual reality animations in Vitascope++, an advanced visualization system that was developed specifically for Stroboscope.
Vitascope++ is not simply an animation post-processor for Stroboscope simulation (like Proof Animation) but was designed so that Stroboscope and Vitascope++ can work together in real time. This means that the 3D animation shown by Vitascope++ is a true reflection of the state of the simulation as it exists inside Stroboscope at that exact point in time.
Moreover, it is possible to interact with the 3D animation in Vitascope++ and effect real dynamic changes in the model that is being simulated inside Stroboscope. In an earthmoving simulation, for example, it is possible to click on a 3D truck in Vitascope++ and force it to break down in the running Stroboscope model or to be routed to a different location.