Skip to content

Waremax Documentation

Waremax is a discrete-event simulation framework for warehouse robot operations. It enables you to model, simulate, and optimize multi-robot warehouse systems before making physical changes or implementing new policies in production.

What is Waremax?

Waremax provides a comprehensive simulation environment for warehouse automation:

  • Discrete Event Simulation (DES) - Event-driven simulation for accurate modeling without time-stepping overhead
  • Multi-Robot Fleet Management - Simulate dozens to hundreds of robots with realistic movement and task execution
  • Configurable Policies - Experiment with different task allocation, station assignment, and batching strategies
  • Traffic Management - Model congestion, deadlocks, and routing in constrained warehouse environments
  • Comprehensive Metrics - Track throughput, cycle times, utilization, and identify bottlenecks

Key Features

Simulation Capabilities

Feature Description
Deterministic Simulation Same seed + config = reproducible results
Event-Driven Architecture Efficient simulation without fixed time steps
Configurable Scenarios YAML-based configuration for easy experimentation
Multiple Order Types Pick, putaway, replenishment workflows

Robot & Station Modeling

Feature Description
Fleet Management Multiple robots with configurable speed and payload
Battery Simulation Optional battery/charging station modeling
Maintenance & Failures Scheduled maintenance and random failure simulation
Station Queuing Realistic station service times with queue management

Analysis & Testing

Feature Description
Parameter Sweeps Systematic exploration of configuration space
A/B Testing Statistical comparison between configurations
Root Cause Analysis Automatic bottleneck detection and recommendations
Benchmark Suites Performance regression detection

Quick Start

Get started with Waremax in minutes:

# Install from source
cargo install --path .

# Run a quick demo
waremax demo --duration 60 --robots 5

# Generate a scenario from a preset
waremax generate --preset standard --output my_scenario.yaml

# Run a simulation
waremax run --scenario my_scenario.yaml --output json

For detailed installation instructions, see the Installation Guide.

Documentation Overview

For Users

For Understanding

  • Concepts - Deep dive into simulation model, policies, and metrics

For Developers

Use Cases

Waremax is designed for:

  • Capacity Planning - Determine optimal robot counts and station configurations
  • Policy Optimization - Compare task allocation and batching strategies
  • What-If Analysis - Evaluate layout changes before physical implementation
  • Performance Benchmarking - Track simulation performance over time
  • Training & Education - Learn warehouse automation concepts

Example Output

Simulation Complete
==================
Duration: 60.0 minutes (warmup: 5.0 minutes)

Orders:
  Completed: 245
  Throughput: 245.0 orders/hr

Cycle Times:
  Average: 42.3s
  P95: 78.5s
  P99: 95.2s

Utilization:
  Robot Fleet: 67.2%
  Stations: 72.5%

Next Steps

  1. Install Waremax - Set up Waremax on your system
  2. Run Your First Simulation - Step-by-step tutorial
  3. Explore Presets - Use built-in scenario configurations
  4. Learn the Concepts - Understand how the simulation works

Technology

Waremax is built with:

  • Rust - Memory-safe, high-performance systems language
  • rkyv - Zero-copy serialization for fast state management
  • sled - Embedded ACID-compliant database
  • mimalloc - High-performance memory allocator

License

Waremax is released under the MIT License.