A scheduler is a simple and easy-to-use way to get different instruments to work together in a coherent and structured manner.
When a process is performed manually, the operator links the plate from storage or fridge, moves the plates between pipetting step and plate reader step all logically and almost in an unthinking manner.
When a robot or stacker is used to pass the plate around the process, a control environment is required, and this is where the scheduler program is used.
With a real-time/event-driven scheduler, the system will run 'flat out' with little or no control of timings (although Overlord3 in event-driven mode does support key timing for one process). There is resource sharing but little or no resource planning, so if a resource is required the process has to wait until the resource is released. Uses include; simple processes such as plate processing through devices such as plate reader or plate.
One of the runtime option modes of Overlord3 offers real-time/event-driven scheduling
static/dynamic and pre-emptive scheduler
With a pre-emptive scheduler, the system runs to a planned time schedule, with total control of the time windows for each element in the system. There is resource sharing and there will never be any conflict in the use in the system resource (unless there is an error, when under certain circumstances the time windows will shift). Uses include; cell culture and processing.
The strength of this type of schedule is the guarantee of samples being treated in an identical way. There is little scone for decisions in the schedule. A pre-emptive is TIME driven.
One of the runtime option modes of Overlord3 offers resolved/static/dynamic/pre-emptive scheduling
dynamic and pre-emptive scheduler
Runs in the same way as the static and pre-emptive category above, but allows rescheduling during the run if required, for example when an error state is detected. The ability to reschedule during the run has been added to try and give the degree of flexibility that is offered by a dynamic scheduler. Examples of this type of scheduler include SAMI, POLARA, EVOware, FACTS and Momentum.
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A scheduler is a simple and easy-to-use way to get different instruments to work together in a coherent and structured manner.
