Overlord3, real-time static dynamic scheduling laboratory automation software

Overlord3 is simple to use software for automating laboratory procedures. It combines instrument control with high performance scheduling - ensuring optimum throughput and error free assay results.

What is a scheduler ?
What is Overlord ?
Why upgrade to Overlord3 ?
Overlord3 and Windows 7

 

categories laboratory automation schedulers Overlord3 lab auto control software Overlord3 drivers Overlord3 remote control 3rd party equipment control Overlord3 software development kit user access control for Overlord3 Assay Manager interface for Overlord3 Upgrade to Overlord3 Redd & Whyte Preddator dispenser is powered by Overlord3

download file/document Structure: Software Trends in Automation     download file/document Presentation: "Solutions for scheduling assays"

Fully compatible with the Overlord3 driver library, Overlord3 combines all the existing event-driven, real-time functionality of Overlord3 with the addition of time-resolved static and dynamic scheduling all in one box !

If you are an automation user or an instrument vendor, Overlord3 offers reliable, hassle free assay automation - Overlord3 works 24/7. Advanced error recovery ensures that, should an error be encountered, the system can react and attempt to continue the run, without intervention.

To find out how you can save money and improve your laboratory performance at the same time, contact us now. One of our integration experts would be delighted to speak with you.

Excellent replacement for POLARA, iLink Pro, SAMI, SoftLinx, SPRINT or VWorks.

• Error free automation, saving you time and money - your automated system is up and running in the shortest possible time. Once running, Overlord3 provides the highest level of reliability requiring minimal attention.
• Which scheduler to use - a thing of the past. Overlord3 always presents the optimal solution - guaranteeing your laboratory the highest possible throughput.
• 405 instrument drivers to control equipment from 127 manufacturers - this means, in most cases you are up and running right away. If a driver is not available, it can be rapidly developed, at a low cost and added to our library. See full Instrument driver list
• Reliable, hassle free assay automation - Overlord3 works 24/7. Advanced error recovery ensures that, should an error be encountered, the system can react and attempt to continue the run, without any intervention.
• Operators love using the software - Overlord3 is quick and easy to use - load the labware, hit run and walk away!
• Overlord3 is the integration and scheduling software of choice - from simply loading an instrument with plates or the most complex assay involving many instruments and multiple robots.
• Overlord3 the most cost effective solution - priced per socket (the number sockets is the number of instruments being controlled) makes Overlord3 cost effective no matter the size or complexity of the application.
• Overlord3 is available through many systems integrators and instrument vendors or direct from paa - you can benefit from Overlord3 - specify that your systems integrator uses Overlord3, as your automation platform.

• Multiple document interface
• Intuitive, multi-threaded application, with Vista interface
• Developed in .NET
• Parallel processing on multiple instruments
• Advanced run-time error checking and recovery
• Empowering advanced users

• Ease of programming
• Rapid assay development
• Increased plate throughput
• Reduced downtime - Fully recoverable from device errors
• Powerful design environment
• Support for device pooling

• simple plate loading to instrument with barcode tracking
• integrated multiple instrument parallel processing (round robin, see here for more details)
• integrated distributed multiple PC systems

Overlord has always been a front runner in automation on the latest Windows platform. As Microsoft Windows has moved from Windows 3.31, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 7, Overlord has been modified or rewritten to ensure the Overlord3 application runs reliably.

Microsoft has changed a large number of features in Windows 7. A number of key functions have been removed, other functions have been added in the operating system. Overlord3 has been upgraded to function within this new environment.

Microsoft are moving away from DCOM as a way of communication with external peripherals, this will effect the control software offered by the instrument manufacturers.

In summary, Overlord3 is compliant with Windows 7. However not all automation system components can be run on or upgraded to run on Windows 7.

Overlord Workstation (Overlord1, real-time, event driven scheduler) was written to control the National DNA database sample preparation and analysis system at the Forensic Science Service in the UK in the mid-1990s. Overlord Scheduler (static scheduler) was commissioned from paa by GlaxoSmithKline to write a competing software for SAMI that was easier to use for simple systems, The increasing popularity of Overlord Workstation led us to develop Overlord2 (real-time, event driven scheduler) which was a complete rewrite of the Overlord Workstation product in .NET, rather than Visual Basic 6 which was used for Overlord Workstation and Overlord Scheduler. We also took the opportunity to separate the user interface from the runtime engine, which led to the replacement of the flow chart user interface with Assay Manager on some systems. Overlord3 takes the successful Overlord2 interface and real-time, event driven scheduler runtime engine and adds a static/dynamic runtime engine for complete scheduling flexibility.

Why upgrade to Overlord3 ? New features of Overlord3, upgrade from Overlord1/Overlord Scheduler/Overlord2 to Overlord3

To find out how you can benefit from using Overlord3 contact us and a paa automation specialist will be pleased to talk to you.