Delay Processor Start Time

[SchreyerNicholasB]

I have a processor representing a machine that is being loaded and unloaded by a robot. As soon as the robot places the item at the processor, it begins processing. I want the processor to wait until it receives a message from the robot indicating that the robot is "out of the machine" and safe to start processing. I would prefer to use a custom code in processflow to send the message from the robot and an on message trigger on the processor.

[regan_blackett · Accepted solution]

I might approach it with Event Listening instead of Messages.  In my example model, I listen for when the robot unloads to the machine and then tell the processor to be "stopped", then give the robot a travel to location task and once the robot has moved away, I tell the processor to resume.

[SchreyerNicholasB]

I am controlling my robot using motion paths, so I have fairly detailed task sequences. I was able to include custom code directly after my robot unload task that will stop the processor and then another custom code that will resume my processor after the robot is past the next motion path. For my scenario, this is simpler than including listening for an event that I directly control the timing of already. I was originally trying to have the processor stop itself with an on entry trigger firing the same logic as my custom code but that was not working as intended. Maybe I needed to add a very short delay similar to a breathe activity?