Peirce Simulation Activity

Peirce Lines

Step 1: Implement Variable Number of Queues with Distinct Food Choices

Objective:
Modify the simulation to support a variable number of food lines, each offering a different type of food. This enhances realism by simulating various food options available in a cafeteria.

Tasks:

  1. Update the FoodLine Class:
    • Add a foodType Attribute:
  2. Modify the CafeteriaSimulation Class:
    • Initialize Food Lines with Specific Food Types:
  3. Update main.cpp to Collect Food Choices:
    • Prompt User for Food Types for Each Line:
  4. Update the CafeteriaSimulation Constructor:
    • Ensure that each FoodLine is initialized with its corresponding foodType:

Expected Outcome:
The simulation now supports a variable number of food lines, each associated with a distinct type of food. When the simulation runs, students are assigned to lines based on the specified popularity and food choices.

Step 2: Introduce Randomized Service Times

Objective:
Enhance realism by making the service time at each food line variable, simulating the differing complexities of orders and preparation times.

Tasks:

  1. Update the FoodLine Class:
    • Add a Service Time Range:
  2. Update CafeteriaSimulation Class:
    • Allow Setting Service Time Range:
      • Modify the simulation parameters to accept minServiceTime and maxServiceTime for each food line.
      • Update the simulation setup to pass these parameters to each FoodLine.
    • Example Modification in main.cpp:
      (Note: You may need to add an addFoodLine method in the CafeteriaSimulation class to handle this.)
  3. Ensure Randomness in Service Times:
    • Each time a student is served, the FoodLine assigns a random service time within the specified range using a uniform distribution.

Expected Outcome:
Service times at each food line are now randomized within defined ranges, adding variability to the simulation and better reflecting real-world scenarios where some orders take longer to prepare than others.

Step 3: Implement Line Switching for Long Waits

Objective:
Enhance customer behavior by allowing students to switch lines if their initially chosen line becomes too long, reducing overall wait times and simulating more realistic decision-making.

Tasks:

  1. Define a Maximum Wait Threshold:
    • Decide on a threshold (e.g., maximum number of students in line) beyond which a student will consider switching lines.
    • This can be a global parameter or specific to each food line.
  2. Update the Student Class:
    • Add a hasSwitched Attribute:
  3. Modify the CafeteriaSimulation Class:
    • Add a Method to Handle Line Switching:
    };Copy code
  4. Update main.cpp to Set Maximum Queue Length:
    • Prompt User for maxQueueLength:

Expected Outcome:
Students now have the capability to switch lines when their chosen line exceeds a predefined maximum length. This feature reduces wait times and simulates realistic customer behavior, enhancing the simulation’s accuracy and complexity.

Summary of Enhancements

  1. Variable Number of Queues with Distinct Food Choices:
    • Implemented multiple food lines, each offering different types of food.
    • Enabled dynamic assignment of students to lines based on popularity and food preferences.
  2. Randomized Service Times:
    • Introduced variability in service durations to reflect the complexity of orders.
    • Utilized random number generation to assign service times within specified ranges.
  3. Line Switching Mechanism:
    • Allowed students to switch to alternative lines when their initial choice becomes too long.
    • Implemented logic to find and assign students to the shortest available line.

Next Steps for Students

After completing these steps, student groups can further enhance the simulation by considering additional functionalities such as:

  • Advanced Customer Behavior:
    • Introduce different customer priorities or behaviors (e.g., VIP customers, students with multiple orders).
  • Staff Management:
    • Simulate staff availability, breaks, and multiple servers per food line to affect service efficiency.
  • Inventory and Supply Management:
    • Track inventory levels for each food type, simulating restocking and shortages.
  • Graphical User Interface (GUI):
    • Develop a GUI to visualize food lines, customer movements, and real-time statistics.
  • Data Persistence and Reporting:
    • Save simulation data to files for analysis and generate detailed reports post-simulation.
Scroll to Top