Feature Robotics & Motion Control
eak Analysis & Automation (paa), based in Farnborough, in con- junction with the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, has developed
automate.it pixcell, a flexible robotic system for precise detection, isolation and picking of part or whole stem cell colonies from Petri dishes. It then trans- fers the colonies to mircotiter plates ready for further development. The system consists of a high preci- sion robot, originally developed for use in the semiconductor industry, a high resolution camera, an illumination system and a picking head. The whole system is enclosed within a Class II cer- tified cabinet, ensuring sterility. The system ensures gentle handling of the stem cell colonies, improving the likelihood of them growing and thriv- ing. It also frees-up researchers from repetitive picking tasks so that they can concentrate on other high value activi- ties. It operates at a level of performance equal to or better than trained staff, picking up to 96 colonies in 15 minutes.
RP-Series
The Mitsubishi Electric RP-Series was used at the heart of the pixcell. Designed specifically for micro-han- dling, it operates with a placement accuracy of 0.005mm or 1
/10 the width
of a human hair, with a picking cycle time of less than 0.5 seconds. Fitting comfortably within the cab-
Aiding the progress of stem cell research P
A Mitsubishi Electric robot has been harnessed by a British company to push forward research into stem cells, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and genomics
inet, the robot is compact and is most commonly used for precision manu- facturing purposes, such as assem- bling watches, mobile phones and hearing aids or for populating printed circuit boards with semicon- ductors. It is designed to be flexible, however, and once fitted with a suit- able working head, it can be used in an almost infinite range of micro- positioning applications.
In use, a petri dish is placed on the
automate.it pixcell instrument picking plate and is quickly scanned by the camera, which is traversed over the dish by the robot arm. An image analysing algorithm then identifies cell colonies based on their morphology. At this
Above: the
Mitsubishi Electric RP-Series is at the heart of a flexible robotic system for precise detection, isolation and picking of part or whole stem cell colonies from petri dishes
stage, an operator can select those colonies to be picked, or picking of all appropriate colonies can proceed auto- matically. This is thanks to the paa Overlord3 laboratory automation soft- ware. Overlord3 combines instrument control with high performance schedul- ing - ensuring optimum throughput and error-free assay results.
The robot then combines X and Y movements to place the picking head adjacent to a colony, then lowers the head through a layer of buffer liquid until it touches the bottom of the dish. A microscopic precise sideways motion then scoops the colony into the head. The freed colony is drawn into the pick- ing head along with a tiny drop of the buffer. This procedure reduces the risk of damage to the cells to a minimal level ensuring their viability.
Consistent performance With another rapid sequence of robot moves, the head is lifted clear and the robot transfers the colony to a waiting microplate. The final step is to pass the head through a cleaning station so that it is ready for its next pick. Ron Belchamber, managing director of paa, said, “The Mitsubishi Electric RP is one of the few robots available that can per- form to this level of consistency over extended periods of time. It is certainly making a major contribution to many areas of advanced life science research.”
Mitsubishi Electric
www.mitsubishielectric.co.uk T: 01707 276 100
Bringing automation into baking technology
itsubishi Electric also offers a range of products and services for the baking industry, ranging from the automation of simple inverter controlled dough mix- ing applications through to complex control systems and robot technology for increasing production. More and more bakeries are making the decision to modernise their production facilities in view of the increasing pressure on prices in the bakery market due to stiffer competition, mainly from discounters, and the rising costs of ingredients. Mitsubishi Electric believe that by making processes more efficient, cost savings can be made which in-turn means that profit margins for bakeries can be optimised on the one hand while helping them to remain competitive on the other. Mitsubishi Electric robot technology can also help to reduce energy consump- tion. “Compared with a typical spider robot, if overhead robots are operated con- tinuously - 24/7 - you can save up to around a third on your energy bills,” explained Jan-Philipp Liersch, product manager Robots at Mitsubishi Electric. Mitsubishi Electric has gained many years of experience in developing solu- tions for various branches of industry. “We have a wealth of experience to call upon when working on applications for the baking industry with a view to optimis- ing productivity and flexibility and reducing production and energy costs,” explained Stefan Knauf, corporate account manager, Food & Beverage, CPG at Mitsubishi Electric. Demands made on technologies within this sector are particu- larly high on account of the wide variety of possible variations within manufactur- ing processes and product requirements.
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Knauf concluded, “In addition to providing a wide range of technologies we
can also provide engineering support. A Mitsubishi Electric System Service con- tract delivers industry leading levels of service and support providing cost savings, improved machine availability and system up-time. Mitsubishi’s solutions do not only cover Mitsubishi’s own products, but also third party products to ensure we deliver a full and complete service for your specific business needs.”
MAY 2013 Automation
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