A kinesthetic teaching approach for automating micropipetting repetitive tasks

• Tipo: Artigo em Revista Científica Internacional
• Data: 2022

Autores

Rocha, C (Autor) Outra; Dias, J (Autor) Outra; António Paulo Moreira (Autor) FEUP; Germano Veiga (Autor) FEUP; Paulo Gomes da Costa (Autor) FEUP

Revista

Título: International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology

Vol. 118

Páginas: 651-663

ISSN: 0268-3768

Editora: Springer Nature

Indexação

ISI Web of Knowledge - 1 Citação

Scopus - 1 Citação

Outras Informações

ID Authenticus: P-00V-B3Q

DOI: 10.1007/s00170-021-07925-3

Abstract (EN): Nowadays, a laboratory operator in the areas of chemistry, biology or medicine spends considerable time performing micropipetting procedures, a common, monotonous and repetitive task which compromises the ergonomics of individuals, namely related to wrist musculoskeletal disorders. In this work, the design of a kinesthetic teaching approach for automating the micropipetting technique is presented, allowing to redirect the operator to other non-repetitive tasks, aiming to reduce the exposure to ergonomic risks. The proposed robotic solution has an innovative gripping system capable of supporting, actuating and regulating the volume of a manual micropipette. The system is able to configure the position of diverse laboratory materials, such as lab containers and plates, on the workbench through a collaborative robotic arm, providing flexibility to adapt to different procedures. A projected human-machine interface, which combines the display of information on the workbench with an infrared based interaction device was developed, providing a more intuitive interaction between the operator and the system during the configuration and operation phases. In contrast to the majority of the existing liquid handling systems, the proposed system allows the operator to place the materials freely on the workbench and the usage of different materials' variants, facilitating the implementation of the system in any laboratory. The attained performance and ease of use of the system were very encouraging since all the defined tasks in the conducted experiments were successfully performed by users with minimum training, highlighting its potential inclusion in the laboratory routine panorama.

Idioma: Inglês

Tipo (Avaliação Docente): Científica

Nº de páginas: 13