Automated Serial Evaporator

Collaborated with a team of six to design and implement an Automated Serial Evaporator, addressing a critical bottleneck in evaporation workflows at the National Institutes of Health/National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NIH/NCATS). This solution resulted in a significant productivity boost, saving approximately 3 hours per chemist per day.

Key Contributions:

Automation Integration with Robotics:

• Integrated the MECA500 Robotic Arm to automate vial handling and evaporation processes.
• Designed and implemented automation workflows, allowing seamless operation and enhanced throughput in laboratory workflows.

Computer Vision for Vial Detection:

• Deployed a camera-based system with edge-detection and segmentation algorithms to accurately identify and locate vials in real time.
• Integrated a barcode scanner for vial identification, ensuring precise sample tracking and workflow traceability.

System Integration and CI Development:

• Conducted system integration by interfacing robotic hardware, sensors, and software components using Continuous Integration (CI) tools to maintain code quality and system performance.
• Implemented robust communication protocols between devices, enhancing reliability and operational safety.

User Interface Design:

• Designed and developed an intuitive User Interface (UI) to streamline interaction with the automated system, enabling chemists to easily monitor and control the process.
• Incorporated real-time status updates and customizable configurations to optimize user experience.

Impact:

• Increased efficiency of evaporation workflows, allowing researchers to focus on higher-value tasks.
• Demonstrated the potential of automation in reducing repetitive manual work, improving precision, and ensuring consistency in high-throughput laboratory settings.
• Highlighted the practical application of robotics and computer vision in advancing scientific research.