Mobile Robotic Lab Cart for Real-Time Sample Process Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laboratory automation systems are limited in their ability to seamlessly integrate manual and automated processes, leading to inconsistencies and inefficiencies in high-throughput screening and other laboratory operations, particularly due to the lack of data capture and real-time monitoring of experiment steps and timing, which can affect the quality and reproducibility of experiments.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an auto-navigating robotic processing vehicle system that collaborates with human operators, utilizing a range of interchangeable end effectors and autonomous navigation to perform various laboratory tasks, including sample handling, processing, and data capture, while integrating with both automation-ready and manually operated equipment, to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of laboratory processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual and automated processes are integrated in conventional laboratory systems, then operational flexibility is improved, but data capture consistency and real-time monitoring capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements comprehensive data capture sensors and real-time monitoring that continuously collect experimental data from all processing stations. This feedback mechanism ensures consistent data recording across both manual and automated operations, eliminating information loss while maintaining operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile robotic cart is designed with universal interfaces and standardized data capture capabilities that work across multiple processing stations and experimental configurations. This multi-functionality allows the same system to handle diverse operations while maintaining consistent data recording protocols.
2Productivity
If more automated processing modules are added to the mobile cart, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic processing system is divided into modular functional units (sample handling module, processing module, data capture module) that can be independently configured and attached to the mobile cart. This segmentation allows productivity to be scaled by adding or removing specific modules without overwhelming system integration complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile cart employs dynamic reconfigurable interfaces that automatically adapt to different module configurations. This dynamic capability allows the system to optimize its internal architecture based on the current operational requirements, managing complexity while maintaining high throughput capacity.
3Ease of operation
If autonomous navigation is implemented in the robotic cart, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of precise positioning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces traditional mechanical positioning systems with sensor-based autonomous navigation using optical sensors, cameras, and computer vision algorithms. This substitution improves ease of operation while achieving reliable positioning accuracy through sophisticated software-based navigation and real-time path correction.
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous navigation system uses intermediary reference markers and guide paths laid out in the laboratory environment. These intermediaries facilitate accurate positioning by providing visual cues and spatial references that the robotic cart's navigation system can reliably detect and follow, ensuring precise arrival at processing stations.
Data Source
AI summary
A rolling cart configured at least for manual rolling across a facility floor to different locations of process stations with the rolling cart comprising a cart frame configured to traverse the cart, displacing the cart as a unit on and across the facility floor on which is disposed at least one of the process stations for processing laboratory samples and/or sample holders and a processing section with a number of different processing modules connected to and carried by the cart 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, each different processing module and corresponding predetermined function being automatically selectable in a predetermined sequence to effect automatically with the corresponding predetermined function, a predetermined series of preprocess or process conditions or steps of one or more of the laboratory samples and sample holders.