Selection criteria for laboratory robotic application personnel

Norwich Eaton Pharmaceutical recognized the benefits of using automation systems in the laboratory over seven years ago and created a robotic development area within the analytical method development group. They now have eight complete robotic systems and a large number of semi-automated systems in routine operation.This level of activity has provided many challenges for the automation group. The success of this group has been very dependent on the talents of people working these assignments. You can have the best equipment and the vendor''s promises of success, but it is the people who understand the products and the requirements that get systems on line.Assembling an effective robotics organization requires prework on the part of management. There must be a clear vision of the specific types of activities the group will perform. This vision can be used to establish a skills profile for the members of the team. It appears that at least four people are required to provide the variety of skills and keep the group going.Each member''s personality is an important component of establishing a new team. In robotics, one of the most critical talents is the ability to work on long term projects that constantly present new challenges. The group members need to balance consistency of purpose with the ability to creatively solve a variety of problems. The group will not be effective in delivering new technologies unless they have the talent to train the novice in a highly technical environment.People who are successful in automation development are unique. They should have the ability to work comfortably in a logic-based environment, to become very creative on demand, and to communicate highly technical information effectively. People do not usually possess all these skills, providing their manager with challenging coaching opportunities.     

Nomenclature in laboratory robotics and automation (IUPAC Recommendation 1994)

These recommended terms have been prepared to help provide a uniform approach to terminology and notation in laboratory automation and robotics. Since the terminology used in laboratory automation and robotics has been derived from diverse backgrounds, it is often vague, imprecise, and in some cases, in conflict with classical automation and robotic nomenclature.These dejinitions have been assembled from standards, monographs, dictionaries, journal articles, and documents of international organizations emphasizing laboratory and industrial automation and robotics. When appropriate, definitions have been taken directly from the original source and identified with that source. However, in some cases no acceptable definition could be found and a new definition was prepared to define the object, term, or action. Attention has been given to defining specific robot types, coordinate systems, parameters, attributes, communication protocols and associated workstations and hardware. Diagrams are included to illustrate specific concepts that can best be understood by visualization.     

Implementation of analytical technologies in a pharmaceutical development organization looking into the next millennium

Managing the implementation of new technology in a pharmaceutical development environment has provided challenges and opportunities to obtain benefits from technologies, e.g. laboratory automation. Successful application of new techniques requires a dedicated resource. Within Pharmaceutical Technologies, this was initially a single person, who has since evolved into a team dedicated to the investigation and development of robotics and non-invasive analytical techniques. Pharmaceutical development is an important interface between research and commercial manufacturing. In research, the success of genomics and combinatorial chemistry will result in a significant increase in the number of development compounds, and this, combined with the desire of commercial manufacturing to move towards parametric release, puts an emphasis on the need for rapid analytical methods. Some ideas on the techniques that will be required to meet these goals will be described together with their impact on automation.     

Automation in the pharmaceutical analysis laboratory: a centralized/decentralized approach

It has been over 10 years since robots have appeared in the pharmaceutical analysis laboratory. In the early days, it was common for one selected individual to be responsible for the programming, usage and maintenance of the robots(s). However, the increasing use of robotics has prompted the formation of robotics ‘laboratories’ and/or ‘groups’. This is especially true when multiple robotic systems and applications are involved.Over the past several years at ISLAR, many champions of robotics have given presentations on the setup and usage of robotics within their organizations. These managers have described both the ‘centralized’ and ‘decentralized’ approaches to the implementation of robotics. In the centralized system, a single group is charged with all aspects of the robotic project, including justification, purchase, validation, use and maintenance. Under such an arrangement, samples are usually given to the robotics group for analysis. In contrast, a totally decentralized approach to robotics would have units interspersed throughout the organization, with each individual group responsible for their respective unit(s), in much the same way as liquid chromatographs are considered.At Hoffmann-La Roche, aspects of both the centralized and decentralized approaches to robotics are used which make our combined system the ‘best of both worlds’. This paper describes the Roche philosophy towards robotics and highlights the advantages to the system used.     

A centralized global automation group in a decentralized organization

In the latter part of the 1990s, many companies have worked to foster a 'matrix' style culture through several changes in organizational structure. This type of culture facilitates communication and development of new technology across organizational and global boundaries. At Glaxo Wellcome, this matrix culture is reflected in an automation strategy that relies on both centralized and decentralized resources. The Group Development Operations Information Systems Robotics Team is a centralized resource providing development, support, integration, and training in laboratory automation across businesses in the Development organization. The matrix culture still presents challenges with respect to communication and managing the development of technology. A current challenge for our team is to go beyond our recognized role as a technology resource and actually to influence automation strategies across the global Development organization. We shall provide an overview of our role as a centralized resource, our team strategy, examples of current and past successes and failures, and future directions.     

Vollautomatisierte Einwaage flüssiger Substanzen mittels Laborroboter

Taking the mass of a sample is a routine operation in the laboratory, which is often repeated during the collection of data. In chemical industry this operation is often done manually. In this work a procedure for fully automatic weighing of liquid substances with a laboratory robot is presented. To demonstrate the functionality of the laboratory robot and to show a possible application, the laboratory robot was used to create test samples for the calibration of a gas chromatograph. The achieved accuracy is greater than that of careful manual weighing. The presented method allows handling of liquids commonly used in the laboratory.     

Analysis of robot system capabilities in machining of full scale prototypes for sanitary ware industry

Abstract

The present paper reviews the potential for applying a CNC robot system to advanced machining techniques, with the aim of optimising company resources in the early stages of new product development. Due to the large dimensions of the robot working envelope, it is possible to totally machine large prototypes at full scale. The experimental work was based on the normal process of model generation through CAD geometric design and CAM toolpath creation, but with subsequent production through robotics CNC machining. The research was undertaken with the objective of characterising the most adequate model materials, tools, and process variables for the rapid machining of prototypes on a CNC robot system at full scale. Initially, the analysis focused on a 3-axis CNC machining operation. With the information achieved in this first stage of the investigation, it was possible to demonstrate the relative importance of adopting 5-axis and high speed CNC machining operations. The research confirms the great advantages attained through this more advanced approach to the industrial production of prototypes. Topics identified for further work are described.     

教学机器人运动学的笛卡儿解法

位置运动学的正问题和逆问题是机器人学中研究得比较多的问题,尤其是逆问题。针对一个教学型多关节机器人的机械特点,不用一般的齐次转换的方法而是用简单的笛卡儿几何的方法解决了其运动学逆问题。最后给出了实验结果,充分证明该方法的可行性。     

Absorption process for the removal of organic solvents from exhaust air

It is shown in this report that, under certain conditions, cleaning of exhaust air by absorption presents an interesting alternative to the existing methods. In particular, this process can be used with advantage for small quantities of exhaust air, high and strongly fluctuating solvent concentrations and solvent mixtures such as those occurring in batch operation. A washing agent was employed which had not been previously used for this purpose. Its properties, which were investigated in the laboratory, were confirmed during a 15-months' trial period in a semi-industrial plant. The process and plant were optimized for practical use. Through its option of solvent recovery from exhaust air, this physical absorption process contributes to environmental control.     

Produktdesign – Beschleunigte Entwicklung von Produkten durch Einbeziehung des Kunden

Product Design – Accelerated Product Development through Customer Involvement During the 1990s globalization prompted the chemical industry to refocus on its core competencies: the development of innovative products. Some companies modified the structures of their organizations and projects to make development more effective. Today, a team made up of product and process developers along with marketing controls the individual steps of product development, involving internal and external experts. Customers are involved in the development, from the idea for a new product until the launch, which helps to speed up and to target management and to minimize the risk of a flop. A product idea takes shape as the chemical and technical possibilities for its development are discussed, followed by a review of the proposal. The ”?innovation thermometer”? can be used to assess its inventiveness, the ”?barometer”? allows an assessment of an idea's chances in the market. Product development must be very quick to secure the market success of a novelty. Ten conditions must be met to carry out accelerated product development. These are discussed in detail. Solid detergents are used as an example to discuss the analysis of consumer requirements. There is a variety of interesting technologies to influence particle design, especially to improve the product's appearance, that can be integrated into the production process.     

The role of individual colour preferences in consumer purchase decisions

The purpose of this study is to test whether consumers' personal colour preferences (in an abstract sense rather than for a particular product) affect their intended product purchase decisions if they are given various colour choices. This work employs two experiments with visual components to investigate which colour a participant would choose if asked to select a product to purchase when there is a range of colours available. Two experiments were also designed to elicit a response about which colour each participant prefers (in an abstract sense). The study finds that personal colour preferences affect intended product‐colour purchase decisions but that the extent of this varies from one product category to the next. Further analysis reveals that personal colour preferences are secondary to factors such as colour functionality and colour performance. This work presents new experimental data about the role of colour in product and product packaging on intended consumer purchase decisions. A conceptual framework, supported by the experimental findings, are understanding the relationship between individual colour preferences and product‐choice colours, and more functional aspects of colour itself (such as the effect of colour on product's performance or functionality).     

Regenerationspotenzial von Alginit zur Abreicherung von organischen Schadstoffen aus Abwässern

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC) in wastewater are receiving increasing attention as studies have confirmed the harmful effects on living organisms' hormonal systems. So far, activated carbon has been used in sewage treatment plants to adsorb the pollutants. The rock alginite as a new type of adsorbent is also suitable for a cleaning process as a 4th cleaning stage due to the good depletion rates for EDC and the low purchase costs. Investigations have shown that repeated loading and regeneration cycles are possible while maintaining a high loading capacity.     

Application of robotics In the clinical laboratory

The basic types of robot are explained, and the performances and costs of some commercial examples are given. The potential advantages and problems of introducing robots into clinical laboratories are identified and the specifcation of a suitable robot is developed. None of the commercially available robots meets all aspects of the specificalion, and currently the purchase of a robot is considered premature for most clinical laboratories.     

Recent advances in interpenetrating polymer networks

Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN's) can be defined as a combination of two polymers in network form, at least one of which was synthesized and/or crosslinked in the immediate presence of the other. Historically, the science of IPN's began with the papers of J. R. Millar in 1960 on homo-IPN's made from polystyrene, but the first recorded publication is a patent by J. W. Aylsworth in 1914. This latter system was based on phenol-formaldehyde for one network, and sulfur cured natural rubber for the other network. Early academic laboratories interested in IPN's include the Frisch team at Detroit and SUNY, who soon added their former student, Danny Klempner, and Yuri Lipatov's team at the Ukranian SSR Academy of Sciences in the USSR, as well as the author's laboratory. More recent academic teams interested in IPN's include Douglas Hourston at the University of Lancaster, England; Robert Cohen at MIT; S. C. Kim at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, Korea; G. Meyer and J. M. Widmaier in Strasbourg, France; and many others. Numerous industrial laboratories are interested, noting that about 90 U.S. patients have been granted, most of them in the past ten years. Systems of special interest include the new thermoplastic IPN's, which are really hybrid materials between polymer blends and IPN's, and the IPN-based RIM (reaction injection molding) materials. Other materials include the sequential IPN's and the SIN's, which have both polymers simultaneously polymerized, and the latex IPN's, which often exhibit core-shell characteristics.     

Study on the Methodology for Retrofitting Chemical Processes

Process retrofit (PR) is becoming a key issue for many existing industrial chemical processes due to the changing prices and market conditions, the emerging new design methodologies, as well as to environmental regulations. PR is sometimes far more complicated than process grassroots design, and it is usually team‐based work in which many departments and disciplines are concerned. Thus, it is very important to rationally organize the work and cooperation of the team members involved in the PR project. In this paper, we present some insights on the significance of PR, the methods for identifying the bottlenecks, as well as the principles and strategies of completing a retrofit project. A systematic procedure for process retrofits is developed based on the experience of several industrial retrofit projects.     

Jumping into the 20th century before it is too late: is laboratory robotics still in its infancy?

Successful management of laboratory robotic automation programmes in the environment of research and drug discovery within the pharmaceutical industry may perhaps be best compared to a chef preparing the perfect hollandaise sauce. All the ingredients must be available at the same time and be of highest quality for the right price. However, if components are not added in the right quantities and in the proper order, no amount of whipping together by the product champion will create the best product. In the past, managerial scepticism surrounding useful implementation of cost-effective, high-throughput robotic systems often placed these ‘modern toys’ at low priorities for research development laboratories. Management now recognizes the unique contributions of robotics in the research environment. Although the scientific director must still play the role of product champion, new questions are being proposed and new commitments are being made to bring the potential of robotic automation to every laboratory where repetitive functions can benefit from new applications. Research laboratory directors have become both the key ingredient, as well as the rate-limiting determinant in the development of new applications. Having fulfilled the promise of robotic automation to release talented personnel, the challenge now is for the ‘end users’, the bench scientists, to be provided with opportunities to invest the time and effort required for future applications and new career functions.     

Targeting the development of membranes for gas separation

This paper presents the new concept of ‘Targeting’ the properties of new membrane materials. Cost parameters are defined in terms of effective selectivity and cost permeability. These new parameters, obtained from the analysis of membrane plant suppliers' bids, are used in a procedure which determines the optimal degree of separation and recovery. The use of the targeting methods is illustrated here in the development of new membranes for the separation of CO from an H₂/CO syngas for the large-scale manufacture of acetic acid. The targeting approach can be extended to include other gas separation technologies and will aid the development of a generic methodology for the design of gas separation processes.     

Fully Automated Weighing of Liquid Substances with a Laboratory Robot

Taking the mass of a sample is a routine operation in laboratories which is frequently repeated during data collection. In chemical industries, this operation is often done manually. A procedure for fully automatic weighing of liquid substances with a laboratory robot is presented. To demonstrate its functionality and a possible application, the laboratory robot was used to create test samples for calibration of a gas chromatograph. The achieved accuracy is greater than that of careful manual weighing. The presented method facilitates the handling of most liquids commonly used in laboratories.