Establishment of low-cost laboratory automation processes using AutoIt and 4-axis robots
In most small laboratories, many processes are not yet automated because existing laboratory automation solutions are usually expensive and inflexible to use. Examples of this are autosamplers that are only compatible with one specific laboratory instrument or larger liquid handling stations that ar...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-10-01
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| Series: | SLAS Technology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2472630322051640 |
| _version_ | 1797996931147890688 |
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| author | Nicole Rupp Katrin Peschke Michael Köppl David Drissner Thole Zuchner |
| author_facet | Nicole Rupp Katrin Peschke Michael Köppl David Drissner Thole Zuchner |
| author_sort | Nicole Rupp |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In most small laboratories, many processes are not yet automated because existing laboratory automation solutions are usually expensive and inflexible to use. Examples of this are autosamplers that are only compatible with one specific laboratory instrument or larger liquid handling stations that are expensive and usually self-contained. A flexible and inexpensive way to automate laboratory processes would be to automate existing laboratory equipment with the help of suitable robotic arms. In this study, we investigate the feasibility of such a strategy based on a low-cost 4-axis robot and freely available software. We used the scripting language AutoIt that automates any Windows-based instrument control software. Using these tools, we automated three fundamentally different laboratory processes: a pipetting process, a use as an autosampler for an atomic absorption spectroscopy instrument, and a more complex process involving the inoculation of bacterial cultures. We also integrated a conventional webcam for 2D barcode recognition. Compared to a trained professional who performed all experiments manually, all setups showed no significant differences in accuracy and precision. In summary, the tested system consisting of a 4-axis robot and freely available software is suitable for flexible automation and has potential for even more complex laboratory processes. Limitations such as a lack of collaboration and speed will be addressed in follow-up studies. The system thus represents a well-suited flexible laboratory automation system for both research and teaching purposes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T10:25:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b47920482f0a47bca838b4ce846330de |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2472-6303 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T10:25:12Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SLAS Technology |
| spelling | doaj.art-b47920482f0a47bca838b4ce846330de2022-12-22T04:29:38ZengElsevierSLAS Technology2472-63032022-10-01275312318Establishment of low-cost laboratory automation processes using AutoIt and 4-axis robotsNicole Rupp0Katrin Peschke1Michael Köppl2David Drissner3Thole Zuchner4Faculty for Life Sciences, Professorship for Bioanalytics and Laboratory automation, Albstadt-Sigmaringen University, Anton-Günther-Str. 51, D-72488 Sigmaringen, GermanyFaculty for Life Sciences, Professorship for Bioanalytics and Laboratory automation, Albstadt-Sigmaringen University, Anton-Günther-Str. 51, D-72488 Sigmaringen, GermanyHit Discovery Constance GmbH, GermanyFaculty for Life Sciences, Professorship for Microbiology, Albstadt-Sigmaringen University, Anton-Günther-Str. 51, D-72488 Sigmaringen, GermanyFaculty for Life Sciences, Professorship for Bioanalytics and Laboratory automation, Albstadt-Sigmaringen University, Anton-Günther-Str. 51, D-72488 Sigmaringen, Germany; Corresponding author.In most small laboratories, many processes are not yet automated because existing laboratory automation solutions are usually expensive and inflexible to use. Examples of this are autosamplers that are only compatible with one specific laboratory instrument or larger liquid handling stations that are expensive and usually self-contained. A flexible and inexpensive way to automate laboratory processes would be to automate existing laboratory equipment with the help of suitable robotic arms. In this study, we investigate the feasibility of such a strategy based on a low-cost 4-axis robot and freely available software. We used the scripting language AutoIt that automates any Windows-based instrument control software. Using these tools, we automated three fundamentally different laboratory processes: a pipetting process, a use as an autosampler for an atomic absorption spectroscopy instrument, and a more complex process involving the inoculation of bacterial cultures. We also integrated a conventional webcam for 2D barcode recognition. Compared to a trained professional who performed all experiments manually, all setups showed no significant differences in accuracy and precision. In summary, the tested system consisting of a 4-axis robot and freely available software is suitable for flexible automation and has potential for even more complex laboratory processes. Limitations such as a lack of collaboration and speed will be addressed in follow-up studies. The system thus represents a well-suited flexible laboratory automation system for both research and teaching purposes.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2472630322051640Laboratory automationAutoIt4-axis robot arm |
| spellingShingle | Nicole Rupp Katrin Peschke Michael Köppl David Drissner Thole Zuchner Establishment of low-cost laboratory automation processes using AutoIt and 4-axis robots SLAS Technology Laboratory automation AutoIt 4-axis robot arm |
| title | Establishment of low-cost laboratory automation processes using AutoIt and 4-axis robots |
| title_full | Establishment of low-cost laboratory automation processes using AutoIt and 4-axis robots |
| title_fullStr | Establishment of low-cost laboratory automation processes using AutoIt and 4-axis robots |
| title_full_unstemmed | Establishment of low-cost laboratory automation processes using AutoIt and 4-axis robots |
| title_short | Establishment of low-cost laboratory automation processes using AutoIt and 4-axis robots |
| title_sort | establishment of low cost laboratory automation processes using autoit and 4 axis robots |
| topic | Laboratory automation AutoIt 4-axis robot arm |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2472630322051640 |
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