BlackBox/CubeIQ Optimizer Settings

Overview

This article will provide some insight into the Optimizer Settings which controls how long Cube-IQ will spend calculating optimal load plans per container and how efficiently it estimates container usage. You can adjust runtime and iteration limits to balance speed and solution quality.

Symptoms

1. BlackBox/CubeIQ may return slightly different optimization results when re-running the same load, even with identical input.

Possible Causes

This behavior is expected and results from how the optimizer manages timing and iteration limits during processing:

• The "Maximum run time" setting defines the strict time limit the optimizer uses when working on each container. Once this time limit is reached, the optimizer stops and uses the best solution it has found so far.

• The "Maximum number of non-improving iterations" determines how many additional optimization attempts can be made without finding a better result, as long as the time limit hasn’t been reached.

Since each optimization cycle is completed very quickly (in milliseconds), the total number of iterations the optimizer can perform before reaching the maximum run time limit may vary slightly between runs. For example:

• In one run, the optimizer may reach iteration 48 before the time limit (5 seconds).

• In another run, it may reach only iteration 47 in the same time frame (5 seconds).

Even though the optimization method and logic remain consistent, these small differences in processing time can cause the optimizer to stop at slightly different points, which may result in minor variations in the final output.

Recommended Settings

• For consistent, high-quality results, at least use 10 seconds with 50 non-improving iterations.

• For faster results with small variations in output, use 5 seconds with 20–30 non-improving iterations.

Procedure

1. Open Optimizer Settings:
   1. Click on the Settings tab from the top menu or press F7.
   2. Navigate to the Optimizer Settings tab if it is not already selected.
2. Configure Optimization Time Per Container:
   1. Maximum run time:
      1. Set the number of seconds allowed for loading a single container.
      2. Recommended: 15 seconds per container for a modern PC.
      3. Note: Loading 4 containers with 15 seconds each will allow up to 1 minute total.
   2. Maximum number of non-improving iterations:
      1. Set the number of iterations the optimizer will continue running without finding a better solution.
      2. Recommended: 500–1000 for small cases.
      3. Use 50 iterations for faster but less detailed optimization.
   3. Configure Container Estimate Settings:
      1. Utilization percentage for estimates:
         1. Cube-IQ uses this value to estimate how many. containers are needed during Load Setup.
      2. You can also set the percentage for each container by:
         1. Right-clicking on the Container Type grid.
         2. Select fill limits.
         3. This defines the target utilization used in estimation calculations.

Assistance

If any further assistance is needed, please contact our Support team.

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