Omnimod | Articles | Building OmniMod’s compact buffering solution as summer interns

Building OmniMod’s compact buffering solution as summer interns

August 14, 2025

Serafina Mertzani, Henrik Månum, Arvin Das

Picture this: It’s the first Monday of summer break, and instead of sleeping in, three students from different academic backgrounds walk into OmniMod’s office and are told, “See that automation system? We need to fit more parcels in there - without ever deadlocking the system. You’ve got eight weeks. Good luck!”

The project - dense buffering and efficient extraction

So, where do we even start? Since this was our first encounter with the world of logistics, we decided to understand the underlying challenges … with a crash-course in parcel logistics.

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Modern eCommerce runs on flow; hundreds of parcels gliding through traditional conveyors and automation systems every hour. When too many parcels pile up in one area, the entire line can freeze like rush‑hour traffic. This happens due to the high density of parcels within systems which limits how many parcels may occupy the system, thus hindering full utilization and efficiency of the system. With buffering being one of the five capabilities of the OmniSystem, having a robust solution for this performance threat is vital.

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The challenge was clear:

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Fit more parcels into the buffer zone of the OmniSystem without blocking exits or entries for the system.
Increase area utilization beyond the capabilities of the current solution.
Allow parcels to stay buffered longer before they need to be extracted.

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The solution should provide a densely packed parcel area - the compact buffer zone. Challenge accepted…

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, OmniMod

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Compact buffering

Like any other intern, our process started with a significant number of questions to ChatGPT, such as “What is compact buffering?” After reading research papers on high-density sequencing systems and area utilization strategies, our approach became building our own “compact buffering” algorithm. This meant we needed to adapt to the tech-stack currently used at OmniMod. This included tools such as the Rust programming language, gRPC, Rerun and more. Despite the initial steep learning curve, our team embraced this challenge, and with great help from our colleagues, we delivered a robust and efficient solution.

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Our choice in implementing an algorithm with a non-AI core offers a complete, deadlock-free methodology for parcel management. Integrating a purely algorithmic approach with the existing AI tech stack was a deliberate choice to ensure maximum reliability and predictability over the system capabilities. The system seamlessly directs parcels for both storage and retrieval. All placements are verified and resorted to ensure safety and maintain optimal density. When a parcel is requested, it's extracted efficiently without interrupting system operations. This fluid, end-to-end process guarantees reliable performance with great area utilization.

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…Challenge accepted and delivered!

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, OmniMod

Results

By the end of eight weeks, our compact buffering solution…

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…was integrated and tested with the rest of the OmniSystem.
…increased area utilization in the buffer zone by 30% compared to the baseline of the existing system
…allowed parcels to stay buffered longer without blocking extraction.

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From a student perspective, this project was a rare opportunity:

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We got to work on a live industrial system, see our code run on physical hardware, and contribute something that will improve OmniMod’s product. Reflecting on our journey, we're proud of how much we have learned technically and collaboratively. The experience has not only improved our technical skills but also taught us the value of teamwork across different areas of expertise.

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, OmniMod