Is anyone aware of ROS projects in laboratory automation?

I’m in an open automation club for hobbyists and professionals working in biotech automation. The club holds monthly talks on matters of biotech automation. The central applications of this field are the integration of liquid handling robots and plate handling robots to create what are essentially highly independent, highly precise miniature factory robotics under tight environmental controls (see examples below)

Automated handler example 1

Automated handler example 2

And I’m here because it occurred to me that it’s like there’s some kind of spell cast: it seems like everyone working on ROS and everyone working on open-source lab automation have somehow just missed each other!

I’m excited to give a short talk and try to break down this invisible border, and I’d like to try and inform folks of any sort of biotech applications using ROS!

Does anyone know if any projects that are using ROS to interface laboratory instruments and plate handlers to move between them? As someone who works with these every day, ROS seems like such a promising solution to a very daunting set of problems! I’ve done a cursory search, but the few results are all several years old. Anyone know of active relevant projects?

Thanks in advance.

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Oooh, this is something I know something about.

My understanding is that Multiply Labs in SF uses, or at least used, ROS as part of their tech stack.

I know Strateos in SF does not use ROS as part of their stack.

I don’t think OpenTrons uses ROS but it might be something they are open to.

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Awesome, this is exactly what I’m looking for. If anyone else has any leads, let me know!

I’m very excited to share this. The talk is on Zoom at 1PM Pacific time on Monday, October 28th. Let me know if anyone wants a link.

There is uLab Kevin | United Robotics Group that I briefly did some tiny amount of work on. It’s a mobile plate handler that brings plates from one place to another, can store multiple on board.

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Thanks! Do you have any insights on the design considerations that led to selecting ROS for this project? Or any pros and cons from doing so?

OOf, it’s been a few years since I did that bit of work. This spun off from Fraunhofer IPA’s Care-o-bot efforts, as was one of the applications. The platform already used ROS 1 since it’s inception (started soon after the inception or ROS, IIRC).
I’m pretty sure a lot changed since I wrote that bit of code for it, haven’t been in touch and work for a different company these days.

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Okay, thanks anyway!

I don’t think they used ROS but this is an automated chemistry lab in University of Liverpool that could be of your interest
too https://youtu.be/dRT3tepdMyI?si=_RBjgQROw06OusyF

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