Open-source Assisted Laboratory Automation through Graphical User Interfaces and 3D Printers. Application to Equipment Hyphenation for Higher-order data Generation

SIANO, GABRIEL GERMÁN; MONTEMURRO, MILAGROS; ALCARÁZ, MIRTA RAQUEL; GOICOECHEA, HECTOR CASIMIRO

ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY

AMER CHEMICAL SOC

Año: 2017 vol. 89 p. 10667 - 10672

0003-2700

Higher order data generation implies some automation challenges, which are mainly related to the hidden programming languages and electronic details of the equipment. When techniques and/or equipment hyphenation is the key to obtain higher order data, the required simultaneous control of them demands funds for new hardware, software and licenses, and also really skilled operators.In this work we present Design of Inputs-Outputs with Sikuli (D.I.O.S.), a free and open source code program that provides a general framework for the design of automated experimental procedures without prior knowledge of programming or electronics. Basically, instruments and devices are considered as nodes in a network, and every node is associated both with physical and virtual inputs and outputs. Virtual components, such as Graphical User Interfaces of equipment, are handled by means of image recognition tools provided by Sikuli scripting language, while handling of their physical counterparts is achieved using an adapted open source 3D Printer.Two previously reported experiments of our research group, related to fluorescence matrices derived from kinetics and high performance liquid chromatography, were adapted to be carried out in a more automated fashion. Satisfactory results, in terms of analytical performance, were obtained. Likewise, advantages derived from open source tools assistance could be appreciated, mainly in terms of lesser intervention of operators and of funds savings.