Robotic Arm Selecting Manual and Automatic Pipettes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current biochemistry and biotechnology processing systems face inefficiencies in experiment reproducibility and precision due to the limitations of using either manual or automatic pipettes, as they are often dedicated to specific tasks, leading to reduced operational rates and increased uncertainty in experimental outcomes.
Innovation Solution
A processing system that integrates both manual and automatic pipettes, controlled by a robotic arm and an operation command generating device, which selects the appropriate pipette based on process symbols and specifications, allowing for flexible use and optimized pipette selection for each process, thereby improving experiment precision and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated robotic arm is assigned to each pipette type (manual and automatic), then the reliability of each pipette operation is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
A single robotic arm is designed to perform multiple functions by selectively grasping different pipette types (manual and automatic) based on process requirements. The robotic arm is equipped with a gripper that can adapt to different pipette geometries, enabling one robot to replace what would traditionally require multiple dedicated robots, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining operational reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects which pipette type to use for each specific process step based on process symbols and requirements. The robotic arm transitions between different pipette types during operation, adapting its grasping method and control strategy according to whether a manual or automatic pipette is being used, rather than being statically assigned to one type
2Device complexity
If manual pipettes are used for all processes, then the device complexity is reduced, but the productivity and precision of the experiment decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains a universal approach by using a single robotic arm for both manual and automatic pipettes, but optimizes productivity by selecting automatic pipettes for processes requiring high speed and precision. This selective deployment allows the system to achieve high productivity where needed without the complexity of having automatic pipettes for all operations
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters by switching between manual and automatic pipette modes based on process requirements. For high-speed, high-precision tasks, automatic pipettes with motorized control are selected; for simpler tasks, manual pipettes suffice. This parameter-based selection optimizes productivity without uniformly increasing device complexity
3Productivity
If automatic pipettes are used for all processes, then the productivity and precision are improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than deploying automatic pipettes universally, the system creates a universal robotic arm that can handle both manual and automatic pipette types. This allows automatic pipettes to be used selectively for high-productivity tasks while keeping manual pipettes for simpler operations, thereby improving overall productivity without the complexity penalty of making all pipettes automatic
4Device complexity
If a single robotic arm handles both manual and automatic pipettes, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation increases due to the need for adaptive control
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary classification of processes into categories that require manual versus automatic pipettes based on process symbols. This advance planning allows the robotic arm to be pre-programmed with the appropriate grasping and operating parameters for each pipette type, reducing the operational complexity during actual execution despite the adaptive nature of the system
Data Source
AI summary
A processing system for processing experiment of biochemistry, biology and/or biotechnology includes a manual pipette which includes a piston and suctions and discharges liquid when the piston of the manual pipette is moved by external drive force, an automatic pipette which includes a piston and a built-in actuator and suctions and discharges liquid when the piston of the automatic pipette is moved by the actuator, a robot including a robotic arm which selects and grasps the manual or automatic pipette based on an operation command, and a robotic arm control device including circuitry which controls the robot such that the robotic arm selects and grasps the manual or automatic pipette based on the operation command. The operation command includes a collection of jobs that controls processes for processing a processing target in an experiment of biochemistry, biology and/or biotechnology and a container containing the processing target in a processing order.