Robotic engineering

The operator s attention is still necessary during continuous screening modes, and he or she can be alerted via email or telephone of problems arising during off hours. Cooperation between assay development scientists and robotic engineers is required for reagent preparation and trouble shooting. Some of the operational issues of fully automated robotic systems include ... 

Rosato, D. V., Parts Removal With On-Robot Secondary Operations and Simple Sprue Pickers in chapter sections of Tool Manufacturing Engineers Handbook, Vol. 9, Materials Parts Handling, SME, 1998. 

Other possible applications of smart elastomers are in the area of polymer engine which can produce maximum power density (4 W/g) and output both in terms of electrical and mechanical power without any noise. These features are superior compared to conventional electrical generator, fuel cell, and conventional IC engine. Many DoD applications (e.g., robotics, MAV) require both mechanical and electrical (hybrid) power, and polymer engine can eliminate entire transducer steps and can also save engine parts, weight, and is more efficient. 

Early laboratory robots were unreliable, but today, these systems perform quite well. Today s robots simply move plates from one robot-friendly position to another, such as the entrance pad of a plate reader. These simplified movements combined with the low weight of a plate allow engineering to simplify the robot designs. As seen in industrial application of robots, robots that are defined and used for a specific application will work day in and day out quite well. It is always best to keep the automation as simple as possible to get the highest level of performance. This is usually accomplished by minimizing the number of moveable parts associated with the automation. Stackers have also become more reliable. This was due, in part, to the standardization of the microplate by an effort of the Society for Biomolecular Screening (Danbury, CT, U.S.A.) in association with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI, Washington, DC, U.S.A.), but also due to the use of simpler stacker mechanisms. Today, there are many choices for devices, workstations, and fully automated systems. The selection as to which automated devices to purchase for HTS should be driven by a clear set of specifications that define the use of the automation. The choices can be expensive, and therefore, replacement may not be possible, so it is important to choose well. 

Decomposing the Dipole s Potential Deepening the Structure and Dynamics Vacuum Engines as Deterministic Spacetime Curvature Sets Causal System Robots (CSRs)... 

Because of vibrations, power stability, and particularly corrosion, commercial laboratory robotic systems available today would have problems on ships. This problem provides an opportunity for research engineers to develop means to modify some sections of the ship to improve power and platform stability. Environmental constraints of a sea-based system were never factored into the design of today s laboratory robots, but the systems could be modified somewhat to reduce these problems. For now, robots would be most feasible for land-based measurements. In the future, however, robots could be important for at-sea measurements, because continuous or repeated measurements are often made over the course of many days. 

---