User Interfaces for University Laboratory Work cells Malcolm Crook Process Analysis & Automation Lecturer, MChem Course, University of Surrey Lecturer, MSc Course Trinity College Dublin Advisory 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 sampleprepare 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 ? AdvantagesDisadvantages Very Flexible True Dynamic Scheduling Takes longer to setup Very easy to use Obeys critical timings Schedules 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

Software Structure Overlord2 Driver Instrument Interface Run native instrument control software Overlord2 Driver Written to access key functionality Overlord2 Driver 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

Overlord2

which product ? AdvantagesDisadvantages Very Flexible True Dynamic Scheduling Takes longer to setup Very easy to use Obeys critical timings Schedules fixed processes Cannot make decisions Overlord2 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 OPTIONS Plate 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 PlateStakThermo RapidStak

HARDWARE OPTIONS - robots

automate.it SCARA HARDWARE OPTIONS - robots PE PlateStakMitsubishi

HARDWARE OPTIONS Peripheral 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 OPTIONS Storage/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 hardware softwareintegration system

example systems No stacker Stacker Robot Tracked robot

no stacker or laboratory robot PerkinElmer JANUS system

stacker only automated TTP Mosquito system automated PerkinElmer PlateStak system

laboratory robot systems automated Innovadyne Nanodrop system automated GE Healthcare IN Cell 1000 system

factory robot systems automated dilute & seal system automated cell system

tracked robot system BSE workcell

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

Experiment Manager – User layer Add an experiment Experiments added Experiment runningExperiment 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