A computer-readable medium that stores instructions, which when executed by a processor perform steps in a method for adaptively scheduling robot tasks in a time interval, for a robot coupled to a stainer, wherein the robot treats slides coupled to the stainer according to a treatment protocol with reagents in reagent bottles or fluid containers coupled to the stainer, the steps comprising:
- creating a robot task list comprising all robot tasks that are ready for execution within the time interval;
- calculating a robot task priority for each robot task in the robot task list;
- sorting the robot task list in descending order of robot task priority;
- and
- adding robot tasks starting from the top of the sorted robot task list to a robot task execution queue until robot the robot is fully utilized in the time interval or the robot task list is exhausted.