Sliding Camera Monitor for Sample Transport Obstacle Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laboratory systems face challenges in automatically detecting obstacles, particularly non-moving samples, and determining their location and characteristics, which is crucial for safe and efficient sample handling.
Innovation Solution
A monitoring device with a transportation unit and imaging streaming unit, equipped with cameras, captures images and provides real-time data to a transport control system for obstacle detection and distance determination, using a trained object classification and detection model.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual surveying of the laboratory system surface is performed to detect obstacles, then operators can obtain visual information about obstacles, but the process is time-consuming and difficult for large systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection with an automated optical imaging system. A camera captures images of the transport device surface, and image processing algorithms automatically detect obstacles such as spilled samples. This substitution eliminates the time-consuming manual surveying process while maintaining or improving detection accuracy through systematic image analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-monitoring of the transport device by integrating imaging capabilities directly into the automated handling system. The transport control system automatically processes images to identify obstacles without requiring operator intervention, allowing the system to monitor itself continuously and efficiently.
2Productivity
If automated obstacle detection systems are implemented, then detection speed and coverage improve, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging unit serves multiple functions: it monitors for obstacles, verifies proper placement of sample containers, and provides visual records for troubleshooting. By consolidating these functions into a single imaging system rather than separate specialized devices, the patent improves productivity while limiting the increase in overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an image processing unit as an intermediary between the camera and the transport control system. This intermediary layer handles the complex tasks of image analysis and obstacle identification, keeping the core transport control system relatively simple while still achieving high detection efficiency through sophisticated processing algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
A monitoring device for monitoring a sample handling system comprising:a sliding unit comprising a sliding surface, wherein the sliding unit is configured for sliding over a sample transport device of the sample handling system; andan imaging streaming unit comprising a camera, wherein the camera is configured for capturing a plurality of images, wherein the imaging streaming unit comprises an imaging communication interface for providing the plurality of captured images to a transport control system of the sample handling system.Further disclosed is a transport control system for controlling transport of a plurality of sample container holders of a sample handling system, a sample handling system for handling a plurality of samples, a method for identifying an obstacle, a method for determining a distance between the obstacle and a monitoring device and a method for controlling a monitoring device and computer programs and computer-readable storage media for performing the methods.