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AnyLogic

AnyLogic Timeline

AnyLogic 8.2

New Palette object and GIS search enhancements in AnyLogic, and social login in the Cloud

Some highlights of the AnyLogic 8.2 version are listed below:

  • A new Presentation object — Canvas. Create dynamically changing images of any complexity.
  • New 3D objects: mining equipment, traffic lights, and motorcycles.
  • Support for high-pixel-density screens on 64-bit computers: The interface now offers improved support for HiDPI and Retina displays.
  • GIS mapping enhancements: new map tiles, and the runtime search area can be set and locked.

Changes have also been made to AnyLogic Cloud – AnyLogic's cloud service:

  • Simple sign-in using Facebook, Twitter, Google or LinkedIn.
  • Share models with a link. Models can now be run and inputs edited by unregistered users.
  • Interactive shapes and elements are highlighted when the mouse pointer moves over them in the animation window.
  • Continued improvements to 3D animation in the Cloud. Also, improve the 3D animation of your models already in the cloud with the help of AnyLogic latest version.
  • New multi-run experiments: Monte Carlo 2nd order and Parameter Variation experiments.
  • New Cloud inspection windows: showing basic model element statistics, as well as graphs for variables in SD-models.
  • New graphics for Box Plot, 2D Histogram, and 3D Surface graphs.
  • Cloud loading performance is now 2.5x quicker.

AnyLogic 8.1

New plots, model uploading, and other enhancements in AnyLogic Cloud

AnyLogic was updated to 8.1 together with AnyLogic Cloud. The new features allowed users to:

  • Upload model source files along with the model, grant access to other developers or all AnyLogic Cloud users.
  • View statecharts, flowcharts, and system dynamics elements in cloud-based model animation.
  • Run models with vector 3D animation including pan and zoom. Support of shapes from the 3D Objects panel will be released later.
  • Edit model parameters in teams using version control.
  • “Like” models, leave comments, and send personal messages to other users.

To visualize the results of random sampling experiments, density plot, error plot and scatter plot are now available on AnyLogic Cloud.

  • Density plot visualizes the distribution density of data over a continuous time period.
  • Error plot shows the average value of the results and their standard deviation.
  • Scatter plot shows how the input values change throughout the entire experiment.
AnyLogic 8.0

Access, run, and share simulation models online

Starting with this version, AnyLogic was the first simulation tool to offer a full range of cloud services to simulation developers. The software integrated with AnyLogic Cloud – a web service that allows users to run models online from any device, including phones and tablets, and share the models with other users.

AnyLogic Cloud is a powerful tool to perform online simulation analytics with a wide range of model experiments and custom web dashboards. With AnyLogic Cloud, you can:

  • Execute multiple simulation runs in parallel and compare the results.
  • Immediately retrieve the simulation results of all performed experiments in Excel format.
  • View HTML5 animations of a model in a web browser.
  • Edit model parameters in teams using version control.
  • Access publicly shared models or create your own online simulation portfolio.

Other features:

  • Support of high resolution displays (HiDPI, Retina, etc.).
  • Creation of Text File, Excel File, Object3D or Image objects by dropping an external file onto an agent diagram.
AnyLogic 7.3

Road Traffic Library

The Road Traffic Library, which had been in preview since AnyLogic 6.6, became available in AnyLogic 7.3 with its full functionality. The library supported detailed modeling of vehicle movement on roads. Each vehicle represented an agent that could have its own behavioral patterns inside. The library allowed users to simulate:

  • Vehicle movement on roads, considering driving regulations.
  • Traffic lights, pedestrian crossings, and priorities at junctions.
  • Parking.
  • Public transport movements.

The Road Traffic library is suitable for modeling highway traffic, street traffic, on-site transportation at manufacturing sites, or any other systems with vehicles, roads, and lanes. A special traffic density tool allowed analysis of road network load.


Other features:

  • New blocks and other enhancements in the Fluid Library.
  • Database improvements: load data for schedule, table function, and custom distribution from the database.
AnyLogic 7.1

AnyLogic integrated database

AnyLogic models have a built-in fully integrated database to read input data and write simulation output. The database feature helps build models that require a certain amount of external data for initialization and work. The database can be exported with the model. With the new database, it became possible to:

  • Read parameter values and configure models.
  • Generate entity arrivals in the process models.
  • Import data from other databases or Excel spreadsheets, and store it in a readily available form.
  • Log flowchart activities, events, state-chart transitions, message passing, and agent biographies.
  • View resource utilization, waiting, processing, and travel times.
  • Store statistics, datasets, and custom logs, simplifying the data post-processing and export.
AnyLogic 7.2

Fluid Library

To better understand the behavior of flows in networks, we developed the AnyLogic Fluid Library, a suite for logistics simulation and modeling of bulk and fluid materials, gas, and oil substances. With the library, users could integrate such continuous processes in a discrete model and represent their performance at a detailed level.


Other features:

  • Highly customizable escalator and zigzag queue objects in the upgraded AnyLogic Pedestrian Library.
  • In addition to the car, bike, and foot routing methods, the AnyLogic GIS object included routing by railways.
  • Automatic conversion of vector graphics into AnyLogic markup elements.
AnyLogic 7.1

New GIS maps implementation (tiled maps)

AnyLogic 7.1 pioneered the full integration of GIS maps and related GIS-based services into simulation models. This advancement allowed for:

  • Access to all data stored in the online-based map: cities, regions, road networks, and other objects (hospitals, schools, bus stops, etc.).
  • Placement of agents on maps, and their movement along existing roads or routes.
  • Element creation inside the model, using the built-in Google Maps-style search or new space markup elements (i.e. GIS Point, GIS Route, and GIS Region).

Once downloaded, tiles are cached, enabling users to work in offline mode.

AnyLogic 7.1

AnyLogic Personal Learning Edition

AnyLogic is licensed software. However, to benefit to the simulation community and make the software available to academic institutions and individuals wishing to teach, learn and explore simulation modeling, on January 12, 2015, we released the Personal Learning Edition (PLE). It is an ideal opportunity for students, professors, and employees to utilize simulation modeling software for free. With AnyLogic PLE, you get:

  • A free permanent license.
  • Advanced functionality.
  • Free upgrades forever.

AnyLogic PLE features are all the basic functionalities of AnyLogic, including support of all three modeling methods, all standard libraries, integration with GIS maps, 3D animation, and more. Models built in PLE are limited in complexity and size, but provide enough capabilities to learn simulation.


Other features:

  • Ability to define Time, Rate, Speed, Length, Acceleration, and Area units for parameters. For example, setting agent speed in miles or kilometers per hour, choosing time units for timeouts in events, transitions, and Source blocks.
  • Updates of the Scale space markup element, allowing quick scale definition for agent animation.
  • Transition to Java 8: a better API for writing collection-related code.
AnyLogic 7.0

Faster, simpler model building with improved capabilities

AnyLogic 7 new features included enhanced support for multimethod modeling, decreased need for coding, renewed libraries, and usability improvements.


Enhanced modeling environment

  • Entities, resources, and agents are all now the same object.
  • Entities can have individual behavior, separate from process driven.
  • Agents can dive into and jump out of the process flowcharts with no coding required.
  • System dynamics can be freely used inside and outside entities and agents.
  • Consolidated 3D space for all kinds of objects: agents, entities, resource units, pedestrians, rail cars, etc.
  • People, vehicles, pallets, buildings, trains, equipment can interact in the same 3D space.
AnyLogic 7.0

New Process Modeling Library

AnyLogic 7 introduced a new Process Modeling Library, a forerunner of the Enterprise Library, for better discrete event (process) modeling. With the new library, users could graphically define parameters, internal variables, animation, and statistics of entities. In addition to traditional “push” entity flow, “pull” flows were supported, which was particularly useful in manufacturing applications. The new library supported task priorities, interruptions, preemption, failures, breaks, and shifts.


Updated Pedestrian Library

With the update, pedestrian models became more scalable without impacting model performance. Users could locate pedestrian spaces with ease, applying specific markup elements such as walls, obstacles, and service points. New embedded features allowed model development in a point and click manner with minimal coding.


Enhanced support for agent-based modeling

  • Agents, agent populations, inter-agent links, and networks are created with the help of wizards and graphical elements, requiring minimal coding.
  • The Agent Population was designed to help users determine agent settings in just a few clicks.
  • Inter-agent links are defined and visualized using graphical objects.
AnyLogic 6.7-6.9

Team license

In version 6.7, the AnyLogic Team License was introduced. It is still available for purchase and allows multiple users to share AnyLogic between workstations.


3D animation in applets

AnyLogic 6.7 made AnyLogic 3D animation compatible with Java applets. Models with 3D animation could be published on the web, and remote users were able to view and navigate in the 3D scene from their web browsers.

AnyLogic 6.7

Updated Pedestrian Library

The Pedestrian Library allowed better simulation of pedestrian flows. From AnyLogic 6.9 on, it became possible to collect statistics on pedestrian densities and animate them as a dynamic density map. The pedestrian density map was displayed on top of the animation at the model runtime. Using the results of density simulation, users could define a throughput for a particular area in a pedestrian model.


Other features:

  • The possibility to export optimization and calibration experiments as stand-alone Java applications.
  • AnyLogic 6.8 included an advanced software version and revision control system – SVN (Subversion).
AnyLogic 6.6

Running models online

In 2011, AnyLogic launched a new simulation community web site called RunTheModel.com. It was the first step toward the greater idea of running models online, and was later incorporated in AnyLogic Cloud. AnyLogic models could be uploaded directly from the AnyLogic development environment to RunTheModel.com, allowing the community to search, run, share, and discuss simulation models online. Users could run other user models, identify possible collaborators, and get new ideas for simulation projects.


Road Traffic Library (technology preview)

A revised and updated version of the Transport Library was released as a technology preview keeping the idea of simulating and visualizing vehicle traffic. The library could be used to model very large-scale traffic systems and integrated well with the Enterprise Library, the Pedestrian Library, and the Rail Library. Later, the AnyLogic team delivered a permanent version of the library.

AnyLogic 6.6

System dynamic modeling enhancements

AnyLogic now provided full support for system dynamics model building. The features included the ability to explicitly draw dependencies between system dynamics variables and enter the formulas later, checking for consistency with the graphical structure.

Starting with AnyLogic 6.6, it also became possible to assign units of measurement to dynamic variables and parameters.


Other features:

  • ExpertFit, a well-known distribution fitting software, now provided integration with AnyLogic. ExpertFit could be used to process data sets, determine the best‐fitting distribution, and import its analytical form into AnyLogic.
  • AnyLogic users with 64-bit Windows machines could now take full advantage. The 64-bit software version made it possible to use more agents, larger datasets and arrays, among other things.
AnyLogic 6.5

Expanded 3D animation

AnyLogic 6.5 expanded the 3D animation capabilities. Users could have both 2D and 3D animation types in one model, view them at the same time, or switch between them. It became possible to define several viewpoints for a 3D scene and display them simultaneously from different perspectives.

Just as with 2D animation, AnyLogic 3D animation is displayed as the model runs, meaning that it is not a recorded video but a true reflection of the model dynamics. Third party 3D objects could now be imported into AnyLogic and used as animations of your entities, resource units, or agents.

All AnyLogic libraries now supported 3D animation. In the Rail Library, the 3D Objects palette now contained ready to use 3D objects for locomotives, several types of freight cars, and passenger cars. Launching 3D animation and custom 3D objects in the Pedestrian Library helped users create impressive and realistic pedestrian models.

AnyLogic 6.5

Improved Rail Library

Beginning with AnyLogic version 6.5, the Rail Library supported an easy to use flowchart interface to define the logic of rail system operations in a drag-and-drop style without any coding.


Other features:

  • New “Excel File” object. Easy access to MS Excel files from AnyLogic models.
  • Starting with AnyLogic 6.5, simultaneous simulations could be split over multiple processor cores.
  • AnyLogic became available in Chinese and German.
AnyLogic 6.2-6.4

Action charts

AnyLogic 6.2 introduced Action Charts, structured block charts that allowed users to define algorithms graphically in the style of structured programming. It was a simple way to define algorithms even if you were not familiar with the syntax of Java operators.


Model export as a Java application

Starting with AnyLogic 6.2, users could export models as a stand-alone Java application. An exported model could be freely installed and run on an unlimited number of computers, and only the support for Java was required. Users create a master application and invoke the AnyLogic model directly from Java code.

The model animation could optionally be a part of a custom user interface, or the model could run without displaying its UI. This new possibility allowed advanced users to create highly customized solutions based on simulation and seamlessly include simulation models into existing workflows.

AnyLogiс 6.2-6.4

Rail Yard Library

The Rail Yard Library, released in the 6.4 version, and later upgraded and renamed as the Rail Library, allowed AnyLogic users to simulate and visualize rail yard operations of any complexity and scale. It enabled the combination of rail yard models with other discrete event or agent-based models of transportation, loading and unloading, resource allocation, maintenance, and business processes, etc.


Model creation wizard

This new feature enabled AnyLogic users to reduce the routine steps needed when starting a model from scratch. When creating a new AnyLogic model, users could choose from model templates. They included system dynamics, discrete event (process-based), agent-based, and pedestrian dynamics models. Wizard could help novice users understand which AnyLogic language elements were used in a particular modeling method.


Other features:

  • Added the “View Area” object to simplify navigation within large diagrams as well as in hierarchical models, both in design time and run time.
  • The Pedestrian Library support of pedestrian group behavior.
  • Released AnyLogic University Researcher for educational research. Later the free Anylogic Personal Learning edition was added to facilitate teaching, learning, and exploring simulation modeling.
  • Added converter for Vensim models.
AnyLogic 6.0

New AnyLogic engine and major technical features

In AnyLogic 6, the simulation engine was redesigned and significantly improved. Models ran 5-20 times faster and the memory footprint of all models was drastically reduced. It became possible to run several million agents on a standard 1GB RAM machine, allowing, for example, the modeling of a large city population with every person having individual properties.

The AnyLogic 6 model development environment was based on Eclipse. The move to Eclipse allowed Mac, Linux, and other popular OS users to run AnyLogic with an OS native look and feel.

Starting with AnyLogic 6, users could work with multiple models simultaneously, switching between different projects, with the ability to copy and move components across models. This, along with the integration of a CSV version control system, provided the basis for teamwork capabilities, enabling multiple modelers to efficiently work on a large project.

AnyLogic 6.0

User interface enhancements

AnyLogic navigation became more intuitive, with one single canvas for all elements: events, statecharts, variables, and parameters, etc. This provided a complete overview of the active objects in a model and, while running the model, users could see both animation and model elements in the same window.

A code completion mechanism was introduced in this version. This significantly simplified typing code, removing the need to type the whole names of functions, variables, and parameters.


Other features:

  • CAD drawing import.
  • Increased agent-based and system dynamics simulation performance.
  • GIS map embedding in presentations.
  • Model simulation snapshots.
AnyLogic 5.3-5.5

Pedestrian Library

In 2005, the AnyLogic Pedestrian Library was released. It was an easy-to-use solution that captured pedestrian dynamics and integrated them with discrete event models. The Pedestrian Library could be used for simulating pedestrian flows inside buildings or on streets. Pedestrian models allowed statistics collection on:

  • Pedestrian density.
  • Estimated waiting time.
  • Interior design testing, and more.

In models created with the Pedestrian Library, pedestrians moved in continuous space, reacting to different kinds of obstacles, such as walls and other pedestrians.


Business Graphics Library

The AnyLogic Business Graphics Library armed users with charts and histograms to animate model output data during simulation, and to export data to other applications as a text. The range of chart types was close to that of MS Excel. It is now a part of the AnyLogic Analysis palette.

AnyLogic 5.3-5-5

Agent-based Library

The library was released in AnyLogic 5.4 and enabled users to simplify time, space, network, communication, and presentation management in agent-based models.

The Agent-based Library was built on the agent-based modeling approach. This approach was successfully applied in simulating markets, the behavior of competing companies, supply chains, road traffic, and population, etc. Agent-based models provided insight into the general behavior of a system by assuming the behavior of its elements.

The Agent-based Library is now a part of the AnyLogic Agent palette.


Transport Library

The library, launched in AnyLogic 5.5, was created to capture traffic flows in a model at a physical level. It was applied to simulate vehicle movement in road traffic, at crossroads, and parking places, as well as to collect statistics on throughput.

In combination with the AnyLogic Pedestrian Library components, the Transport Library could be used to examine pedestrian influence on traffic congestion. Car movement was based on embedded or custom traffic laws.

The library was later replaced by the AnyLogic Road Traffic Library.

AnyLogic 5.0

System dynamics

AnyLogic 5.0 introduced the drawing of system dynamics flows on structure diagrams. The software supported the design and simulation of feedback structures (stock and flow diagrams and decision rules, including array variables) in a way most system dynamic modelers were used to.

This feature made AnyLogic the first simulation tool embracing all three major modeling approaches: agent-based simulation, system dynamics, and discrete event modeling.

Network-based modeling

For designing processes, that took place in a certain physical space and involved the movement of entities and resources, the Enterprise Library in AnyLogic 5.0 offered the network-based modeling approach.

AnyLogic 5.0

3D animation

Starting with the fifth version, models could be visualized using 3D animation, which included the following features:

  • Basic 3D shapes: sphere, cylinder, cone, torus, triangle, mesh, text, etc.
  • Custom shapes created by combining basic shapes.
  • Support for surface materials.
  • Dynamic lighting.

Experiment framework expansion

In addition to simulation and optimization experiments, the AnyLogic 5.0 simulation framework was expanded with the following:

  • Monte-Carlo experiment: allows you to run a simulation several times with stochastic parameters, collect outputs, and represent them on a histogram.
  • Sensitivity Analysis experiment: helps you explore how simulation results vary due to changes in model parameters. The model can be executed multiple times, varying one of the parameters, and shows how the simulation output depends on it.
  • Parameter variation experiment (released in AnyLogic 5.1): executes a model with different parameters and analyzes how certain parameters affect model behavior. With this experiment, it is easy to configure complex model simulation comprising several single model runs, varying one or more root object parameters.
  • Custom experiment: it gives users maximum flexibility when setting parameters and managing simulation runs. An experiment scenario is defined in Java code, written by a modeler.
AnyLogic 4.5

Enterprise Library

In addition to agent-based modeling, which was available from the very beginning, AnyLogic 4.5 introduced discrete event modeling with the Enterprise Library, the predecessor of today’s Process Modeling Library. It could be used to model and simulate systems such as:

  • Manufacturing processes.
  • Service systems (banks, airports, call centers, etc.).
  • Business processes with activity based costing.
  • Logistics and supply chain models.

The Enterprise Library contained blocks, based on active objects, with predefined functionality to construct flowcharts for discrete event models. The library also enabled users to create models and animations in a drag-and-drop manner.

The Enterprise Library allowed users to create interactive models, collect statistics, and effectively visualize the process to validate and present a model. Library components could naturally interoperate with AnyLogic primitives like events or statecharts.

AnyLogic 4.5

Custom libraries

Starting with AnyLogic 4.5, users could develop a set of reusable active objects for a particular application area, package them, and save them as a custom AnyLogic library. These libraries could then be exported and reused.


Optimization experiment

In AnyLogic 4.5, optimization was added to the modeling environment and remains in the current experiment framework. When running the experiment, users could discover model parameters that corresponded to the best possible solution. Optimization experiment helped with observing system behavior under certain conditions, as well as improved the system performance.

AnyLogic optimization was developed and is still built on top of OptQuest, a state of the art optimization engine created by the OptTek company. Experienced users can use the AnyLogic engine API to control model replications, organize parameter variation, and implement custom optimization algorithms.


Integration with Stat::Fit

Starting with AnyLogic 4.5, the program was seamlessly integrated with Stat::Fit, a comprehensive distribution fitting software. Stat::Fit takes raw data and gives it an appropriate distribution. The distribution is then formatted for and input directly to AnyLogic.

AnyLogic 4.0

AnyLogic's earliest version

AnyLogic’s history began in 2000 when, keeping up with the numbering of its forerunner, COVERS 3.0, AnyLogic 4.0 was released as a simulation tool for business application. It was aimed at modeling systems of arbitrary nature, complexity, and scale, including:

  • Discrete and continuous logic (networks, protocols, parallel algorithms, embedded controllers, and logistics networks).
  • Physical objects (vehicles, mechanics, hydro and aerodynamics, chemical reactions, ecological systems).
AnyLogic 4.0

Setting standards

AnyLogic was the first agent-based simulation environment, as the models had a hierarchical structure, which consisted of communicating active objects (later known as “agents”). AnyLogic employed UML-RT structure diagrams to build hierarchical models in an object-oriented way, and hybrid statecharts, or hybrid state machines, for object behavior specification. Altogether, this enabled object encapsulation, the separation of system structure and behavior, and inheritance.


Interoperability

AnyLogic models had open architecture and could interoperate with office or corporate software. Users could extend a model’s functionality by inserting Java code, creating custom object classes, and adding state logic and continuous behavior to make models more scalable and flexible. The model could be exported from AnyLogic as a Java-applet and run in a web browser.

AnyLogic was presented to an audience for the first time at the Winter Simulation Conference in 2000 and it received a great response.