User Interfaces for University Laboratory Work cells
Malcolm CrookProcess Analysis & Automation
Lecturer, MChem Course, University of Surrey Lecturer, MSc Course Trinity College DublinAdvisory Board, University of Manchester
Purpose of presentation to show …
Software options– Vendor specific– Vendor independent
Hardware options– Usually decided by user
Systems integration– Putting the system together
Tailoring projects– Making the system useable
analyze sample
prepare sample
analyze sample
prepare sample
Laboratory automation - the process
collect sample
report results
Key software requirements
Run a batch of plates Run another batch of plates if present Reliable Easy to use
Software Choices
Time driven scheduler– Unsuitable for the tasks suggested in the
documents Event driven scheduler
– Can handle timings– Can handle decisions– Can handle unknown plate quantities at the
beginning of the run Overlord2 is an EVENT DRIVEN SCHEDULER Overlord Scheduler is a TIME RESOLVED SCHEDULER
control and scheduling software
STATIC
hit the GO button
know exactly what will happen
at any time in the process
DYNAMIC
hit the GO button
Follow a set process
control software - summary
real-time scheduling– OVERLORD
Workstation– event driven
time-resolved scheduling– OVERLORD
Scheduler– time driven
Either
common features
support for over 300 instruments data handling facilities utilizes original instrument software can integrate with most databases
– SQL server, oracle, access 21 CFR part 11 compliant full system tracking error notification error recovery
which product ?
Advantages Disadvantages
Very FlexibleTrue Dynamic Scheduling
Takes longer to setup
Very easy to useObeys critical timingsSchedules fixed processes
Cannot make decisions
Overlord2
OVERLORD Scheduler
Overlord2
dynamic/real-time/event icon based drag and drop set-up flow chart interface very flexible dynamic scheduling
– decisions can be made in real-time
Software Structure
Instrument Interface
Run native instrument control software
Instrument Interface
Instrument Interface
Software Structure
Overlord2 Driver
Instrument Interface
Run native instrument control software
Overlord2 Driver Written to access key functionalityOverlord2 Driver
Instrument Interface
Instrument Interface
Supervisor layer
Software Structure
Overlord2
Overlord2 Driver
Instrument Interface
Run native instrument control software
Overlord2 Driver Written to access key functionality
Event driven
Overlord2 Driver
Instrument Interface
Instrument Interface
Overlord2
which product ?
Advantages Disadvantages
Very FlexibleTrue Dynamic Scheduling
Takes longer to setup
Very easy to useObeys critical timingsSchedules fixed processes
Cannot make decisions
Overlord2
OVERLORD Scheduler
OVERLORD Scheduler
static/time driven icon based drag and drop Gantt chart interface optimise and interleave different assays e ach assay run with exact incubation timings very easy to create an assay add new assays when the system is running
OVERLORD Scheduler
HARDWARE OPTIONS
Most manufacturers Most instruments Over 300
instruments 450 licenses Used in
– USA– Europe – Japan– Australia
HARDWARE OPTIONSPlate transport
Plate transfer choice
Stackers Hudson PlateSilo Magstar Stacker PerkinElmer LS PlateStak Titertek Titan Thermo RapidStak plate
stacker Velocity 11 BenchCel
Stacker
Robots automate.it KiNEDx SCARA arm Caliper (Zymark) Twister I & II Denso VS-6556E robot Hamilton Microlab SWAP Hudson Plate Crane Mitsubishi robots PAA TUBEstar / WELLstar /
STORstar PAA X-Link Sands Robot R16 Staubli robots Thermo CataLyst 5 & X
HARDWARE OPTIONS – stackers
PE PlateStak Thermo RapidStak
HARDWARE OPTIONS - robots
automate.it SCARA
HARDWARE OPTIONS - robots
PE PlateStakMitsubishi
HARDWARE OPTIONSPeripheral equipment
HARDWARE OPTIONS- peripheral equipment
Plate manipulatorHigh content plate reader
Peripherals
HARDWARE OPTIONS- peripheral equipment
Reagent dispensing
Flexdrop
Liquid Handling
PlateWash
HARDWARE OPTIONS- peripheral equipment
Barcode reader
Plate reader
HARDWARE OPTIONSStorage/containment
HARDWARE OPTIONS - storage
Inheco 12 place incubator Thermo Cytomat range of incubators Liconic range of incubators Hamilton (TekCel) PlateStore Thermo (Jouan) MolBank Incubator Caliper Scitec Carousel
Storage
HARDWARE OPTIONS - containment
Bench workcell automate.it SAFEcel automate.it SAFEcel L automate.it SAFEcel C2 automate.it connect 2 robot solution
Systems Integration
what is an integrator ?
instruments are BRICKS software is the CEMENT integrator puts it together like a BUILDER
hardwaresoftware integration
system
example systemsNo stacker
StackerRobot
Tracked robot
no stacker or laboratory robot
PerkinElmer JANUS systemhttp://www.paa.co.uk/ftp/labauto/videos/elisa_jpm_lo.wmv
stacker only
automated TTP Mosquito systemhttp://www.paa.co.uk/ftp/labauto/videos/nano_mosquito_lo.wmv
automated PerkinElmer PlateStak systemhttp://www.paa.co.uk/ftp/labauto/videos/elisa_pe_lo.wmv
laboratory robot systems
automated Innovadyne Nanodrop systemhttp://www.paa.co.uk/ftp/labauto/videos/nano_innovadyne_lo.wmv
automated GE Healthcare IN Cell 1000 systemhttp://www.paa.co.uk/ftp/labauto/videos/hcs_1000_lo.wmv
factory robot systems
automated dilute & seal systemhttp://www.paa.co.uk/ftp/labauto/videos/mitsubishi_dilute_seal_lo.wmv
automated cell systemhttp://www.paa.co.uk/ftp/labauto/videos/ppw_lo.wmv
tracked robot system
BSE workcellhttp://www.paa.co.uk/ftp/labauto/videos/milk_lo.wmv
Tailoring systems
Overlord2 - Customizable
user GUI & runtime module separable can use different GUI, Excel could be used different run engines can be run processes the flow using Overlord variables overlord instrument drivers developed quickly all components can be modified master or slave all errors handled with different options .NET framework, API will be utilized flexible GUI makes writing assays easier
User layer
Software Structure
Experiment Manager
Overlord2
Overlord2 Driver
Instrument Interface
Run native instrument control software
Overlord2 Driver Written to access key functionality
Event driven
Overlord2 Driver
Instrument Interface
Instrument Interface
Experiment Manager – User layer
Add an experiment
Experiments added
Experiment running
Experiment complete
External collaborations
Overlord2 GE: Automation front ends Molecular Devices StakMax Labcyte 810 Pod: Automation layer Caliper ACES programme TAP: Automation layer Matrical automated workcell
OVERLORD Scheduler PerkinElmer: JANUS Project Manager
conclusion
laboratory automation has a number of key stages choice
– hardware– software
scheduler choice User front end choice
– integration make the system what was required not what was
asked for committed to technically relevant cost effective
solution