Flexible Software Architecture for User-Interface and Machine Control in Laboratory Automation

• Published in: BioTechniques Vol. 25; no. 4; pp. 698 - 705
• Main Authors: Arutunian, Ethan B, Meldrum, Deirdre R, Friedman, Neal A, Moody, Stephen E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Natick, MA Future Science Ltd 01.10.1998; Eaton; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: Automation - instrumentation; Biological and medical sciences; Clinical Laboratory Techniques - instrumentation; Computer Security; Computers; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Humans; Internet; Mathematics in biology. Statistical analysis. Models. Metrology. Data processing in biology (general aspects); User-Computer Interface; Automation; Machine control; User interface; Graphical interface; Laboratory equipment; Software; Internet
• ISSN: 0736-6205; 1940-9818
• DOI: 10.2144/98254bi01

We describe a modular, layered software architecture for automated laboratory instruments. The design consists of a sophisticated user interface, a machine controller and multiple individual hardware subsystems, each interacting through a clientserver architecture built entirely on top of open Internet standards. In our implementation, the user-interface components are built as Java™ applets that are downloaded from a server integrated into the machine controller. The user-interface client can thereby provide laboratory personnel with a familiar environment for experiment design through a standard World Wide Web browser. Data management and security are seamlessly integrated at the machine-controller layer using QNX , a real-time operating system. This layer also controls hardware subsystems through a second client-server interface. This architecture has proven flexible and relatively easy to implement and allows users to operate laboratory automation instruments remotely through an Internet connection. The software architecture was implemented and demonstrated on the Acapella, an automated fluid-sample-processing system that is under development at the University of Washington.