Numerical Variables
Define a continuous or discrete number within a range.
A numerical variable represents a quantity you can set to any value between a lower and upper bound. The optimizer will suggest values within this range.
Required Settings
Setting | Description | Example |
Name | A unique name for the variable | Temperature |
Lower bound | The minimum value the optimizer can suggest | 50 |
Upper bound | The maximum value the optimizer can suggest | 200 |
Optional Settings
Setting | Description | Example |
Unit | Unit label for display | °C, mol/L, bar |
Step size | Restrict suggestions to multiples of this value (range: 0.0001–100) | 5 (only suggests 50, 55, 60, ...) |
Decimal places | How many decimals to show in the UI (1–16) | 2 |
Description | Free-text note for collaborators (max 1024 chars) | "Reactor jacket temperature" |
Batch-constrained | If on, this variable stays the same across all experiments in a batch | Reactor type that cannot change mid-plate |
Examples
Temperature
Lower bound: 50
Upper bound: 200
Unit: °C
Step size: 5 (only multiples of 5 will be suggested)
Concentration
Lower bound: 0.01
Upper bound: 1.0
Unit: mol/L
Step size: 0.001
Flow rate
Lower bound: 0.5
Upper bound: 10.0
Unit: mL/min
Step size: 0.5
Good to Know
The lower bound must be less than or equal to the upper bound.
Step size is useful when your equipment can only operate at discrete settings (e.g. a stirrer that only goes in increments of 50 rpm).
You can further restrict the search space using Constraints.