Multiple automation controllers

On the other hand, the principle of CellCube and Cell Factory is to provide a large area for cell adhesion and proliferation in relatively compact devices. The latter consists of multiple trays, providing surface areas in the range of 700-25 000 cm2, for medium volumes of 0.2-8 L (Nunc, 2006). The system called CellCube provides a surface area in the range of 8500-85 000 cm2 and is fitted with an automated control system (Corning, 2006). 

Today, multiple microreactor designs have been reported for the aerobic oxidation of organic compounds. Most of the reactors are built out of simple polymer or stainless steel tubing, assembled together as prototype reactor concepts. But also multigram to kilogram-scale reactor setups have been reported, with automated control and inhne purification methods. 

Among pioneering computer-controlled experiments implemented in the nuclear field were the automated fast neutron laboratory at Argonne, the multiple spectrometer control system at Brookhaven, and the NRU reactor-control experiment at the Chalk River Laboratories. At Argonne... 

When there are multiple controllers (human and/or automated), control actions may be inadequately coordinated, including unexpected side effects of dedsions or actions or conflicting control actions. Communication flaws play an important... 

The plant operation is controlled by the integrated automated control system on the basis of multiple redundant control computing devices with automatic diagnostic of software-hardware The technical capabilities of the computing devices allows continuous and periodical diagnosis of the state of the most important elements and the reactor plant as a whole by all presently used methods which considerably reduces the probability of sudden failures... 

A. Modular unit operating license. New licensing requirements that would permit the automated control and operation of a multiple modular reactor system from a single control room would significantly reduce costs and personnel requirements ... 

A fully automated microscale indentor known as the Nano Indentor is available from Nano Instmments (257—259). Used with the Berkovich diamond indentor, this system has load and displacement resolutions of 0.3 N and 0.16 nm, respectively. Multiple indentations can be made on one specimen with spatial accuracy of better than 200 nm using a computer controlled sample manipulation table. This allows spatial mapping of mechanical properties. Hardness and elastic modulus are typically measured (259,260) but time-dependent phenomena such as creep and adhesive strength can also be monitored. 

B. Grocholsky, A. Makarenko, and H. Durrant-Whyte, Information-theoretic coordinated control of multiple sensor platforms, in Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, Taipei, Taiwan, September 2003, pp. 1521-1526. 

The HP 6890 series GC gas-samphng valve technology, in conjunction with programmed interval sampling, makes this type of GC-based quahty-control automation a reahty. The GC can control and sense the position of multi-position valves to make it possible to automate sample-stream selection. Each sample, which is downloaded automatically, can then be analysed by a different method. Automated analysis of multiple process streams is especially attractive and cost-effective for complex chemical and petrochemical operations in which raw materials for product streams need to be assessed at regular intervals. 

In the past, laboratories have justified the initial investment in dedicated automation on the basis of the large number of identical, repetitive operations carried out. Fixed or dedicated automation is utihzed for large quantities of standard procedures, such as those found in manufacturing environments or in clinical laboratories. Fixed automation follows a predetermined sequence of steps to perform a defined procedure although efficient, it can only perform one repetitive procedure. Robotics, however, can provide flexible automation to meet the changing needs typical of quality control and research laboratories. Flexible automation is programmed by individual users to perform multiple procedures, and can be quickly reprogrammed to accommodate new or revised procedures. In these situations, a careful assessment of the software overhead must be made before a decision to purchase is made. 

In the first section, the mechanisms involved in size exclusion chromatography are discussed this is an area where additional understanding and clarification still are needed. Data treatment with respect to statistical reliability of the data along with corrections for instrumental broadening is still a valid concern. Instrumental advances in the automation of multiple detectors and the developm.ent of a pressure-programmed, controlled-flow supercritical fluid chromatograph are presented. 

---