In a laboratory environment, researchers perform experiments with samples across multiple stations and manipulation or analysis steps.
Doing this manually is time-intensive and error-prone, but automation is challenged by the unstructured and shared nature of the laboratory space.
AICA was the primary software integrator for a demonstrative collaborative mobile robot that could navigate to individual stations, self-localize with sub-millimeter accuracy using vision and force feedback, and perform distinct machine tending steps depending on the experiment requirement.
At the end of the project, a research student was able run a full batch of automated experiments and collect data to contribute towards their PhD thesis. The project demonstrated several strengths in the AICA System for adaptive and modular programming combined with force-control for tactile localization and manipulation. It also showcased the ability to work seamlessly with multiple hardware platforms and project partners.
