Autonomous Lab Processing Vehicle for Consistent Sample Preprocessing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional high throughput screening in life sciences often faces challenges with manual experiments, including variability due to human error, lack of data capture, and inefficiencies in time-sensitive processes, which can affect the quality and consistency of results.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of auto-navigating robotic processing vehicles that collaborate with human operators, equipped with autonomous navigation and modular processing functions, to assist in laboratory tasks such as sample handling, processing, and data capture, enhancing the automation of time-sensitive steps and improving data management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual experiments are conducted in high throughput screening, then human operators can perform laboratory tasks, but variability due to human error and lack of data capture affect the quality and consistency of results
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic processing vehicle autonomously navigates to processing stations, performs sample handling tasks, and captures data without requiring human intervention for each operation. The system self-manages the experimental process, eliminating human error variability while automatically recording all experimental data and conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic system incorporates sensors and data capture mechanisms that continuously monitor and record experimental parameters, sample positions, and processing conditions. This feedback loop ensures complete data capture and enables verification of experimental consistency across multiple high throughput screening runs.
2Productivity
If manual experiments are conducted in high throughput screening, then human operators can perform laboratory tasks, but inefficiencies in time-sensitive processes affect the quality and consistency of results
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic processing vehicle operates continuously without breaks, performing sample handling, transfer, and processing tasks in an uninterrupted manner. This continuous operation eliminates delays between experimental steps while maintaining consistent quality through automated precision, thereby improving both productivity and reliability.
3Reliability
If auto-navigating robotic processing vehicles are implemented, then accuracy and consistency of laboratory processes are increased, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic processing vehicle is designed as a multi-functional platform that can perform various sample handling tasks including pickup, transfer, processing, and data capture at different processing stations. This universal design consolidates multiple functions into a single system, improving reliability while managing complexity through integration rather than proliferation of separate devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic vehicle incorporates modular components including autonomous navigation section, robot arm with end effectors, sensors, and data capture systems. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each module while maintaining overall system reliability, and enables easier maintenance and calibration of individual components without affecting the entire system.
4Duration of action of moving object
If auto-navigating robotic processing vehicles are implemented, then working hours are extended beyond traditional shifts, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic processing vehicle operates in periodic cycles, navigating to processing stations, performing tasks, and returning to base for recharging when needed. This periodic operation pattern allows the system to extend working hours beyond traditional shifts while managing energy consumption through scheduled charging intervals, balancing continuous productivity with energy resource management.
Data Source
AI summary
An auto-navigating robotic processing vehicle including a carriage having a frame, an autonomous drive section configured to traverse the carriage effecting vehicle travel on a facility floor, and having an autonomous navigation section to effect autonomous navigation vehicle travel, a processing section with different processing modules connected to and carried by the frame, each of the different processing modules having a different predetermined laboratory processing function with a different predetermined function characteristic corresponding to the processing module and being automatically selectable to effect a preprocess or preprocess condition of laboratory samples and/or sample holders with respect to a process at a processing station, and a controller automatically selects at least one processing module and the corresponding predetermined function of the selected processing module effecting automatically the preprocess or preprocess condition based on an identification of a travel location for the vehicle and the process of the at the processing station.