Fleet Size vs Vehicle Capacity Simulator

Monte Carlo discrete event simulation to compare fleet configurations. Analyze the trade-off between fewer large vehicles (8×250t) vs more smaller vehicles (20×100t) for asteroid mining logistics.

Fleet Parameters

5 15 25
80t 190t 300t
5 yr 15 yr 25 yr
0% 5% 10%
$0.5B $2.5B $5B

Comparison Mode

Compares 6 configurations ranging from 5×300t to 25×80t while keeping mission duration, failure rate, and budget constant.

Throughput Comparison

Run a comparison simulation to see throughput chart

Simulation Results

Configure the fleet parameters and run the simulation to see results.

Simulation Methodology

This discrete event simulation models the complete logistics cycle of asteroid mining transport vehicles: loading at the asteroid, transit to Earth orbit, unloading at the processing facility, and return transit.

  • Transit times scale with payload mass (heavier = slower trajectories)
  • Empty return trips are faster than loaded outbound trips
  • Vehicle failures follow exponential distribution based on annual failure rate
  • Loading/unloading rates model realistic autonomous operations

Key trade-off: Larger vehicles have higher throughput per vehicle but fewer total trips; smaller vehicles provide redundancy but increase operational complexity.

This simulator was built to investigate research question RQ-0-19: Fleet size vs vehicle capacity trade-off

View Bulk Transport Vehicles BOM Item
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